Slovenia manager Bostjan Cesar has expressed his frustration with Manchester United's handling of striker Benjamin Sesko's injury, accusing the Premier League club of mismanaging his fitness. The 22-year-old missed the final three games of the season for United due to a shin problem, but Cesar believes the player was rushed back into action too quickly.
Injury Concerns
Sesko had an encouraging first season at Old Trafford, scoring 12 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions. However, his campaign ended disappointingly as he sat out the last three matches. He was taken off at half-time in the recent 3-2 victory over Liverpool after suffering a painful blow to his ongoing shin injury, as confirmed by United boss Michael Carrick.
Cesar, speaking ahead of Slovenia's friendlies against Cyprus and Croatia, said: 'He missed the last assembly in March and then I kind of wanted him to be absent from United for a while, but then he came back quickly and I don't think he missed a game for the club. But if a player hasn't been in a competitive rhythm for a month, then I don't see the point in him coming and playing at half-strength.'
National Team Cooperation
The Slovenia manager added that the national team works closely with club doctors when it comes to injuries. 'In cases of injuries, the national team receives all the documentation, and then we decide together with their doctors what is best,' he explained.
Carrick had earlier stated about Sesko: 'Ben's been carrying a shin problem for some time and he took another quite a big bang on it, obviously he had to come off last week, so he wasn't ready today.' This followed the goalless draw with Sunderland after the Liverpool win.
International Future
Slovenia failed to qualify for the World Cup, finishing third in their group behind Switzerland and Kosovo. They scored just three goals in six games without a single win. Sesko has netted 16 times in 45 caps for his country and will hope to return for the Nations League campaign against Scotland in September.
The striker found his form after Carrick took interim charge in January and has praised the coach: 'He's an amazing coach. He's brought different energy and also the way we're doing the training is unbelievable. I would like to have him here.'
