Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko could be back ‘sooner than expected’ from a knee injury, says his agent.
The Slovenian striker has been out of action for just over a month after picking up a problem in the 2-2 draw at Spurs on November 8.
Sesko came off the bench in that game but could not make it to the final whistle and has not featured since.
After the match, manager Ruben Amorim said: ‘I’m concerned with an injury, because it is in the knee, and I don’t know.
‘We need Ben to be a better team. We have to check. He has something in his knee. Let’s see.’
Get your football fix
Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro’s football experts sent straight to your inbox – sign up, it’s an open goal.
The 22-year-old was not expected to be out for a seriously long time, with a return date thought to be this month and his agent, Elvis Basanovic, suggests his return is now imminent.
‘Benjamin is feeling very well. His rehabilitation is progressing according to plan,’ Basanovic told GiveMeSport.
‘It’s hard to say precisely when he will return. That will be up to the medical staff and the manager, but I think we’ll see him back on the pitch very soon. Maybe even sooner than expected.’
It has been a mixed bag of results and performances for the Red Devils since Sesko’s injury.
At home they have been beaten by Everton and drawn with West Ham in two outings to forget, while on the road they picked up wins at Crystal Palace and Wolves in much better displays.
Mason Mount played with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in the front three in the 4-1 win at Molineux on Monday, with the England international getting on the scoresheet.
Sesko’s agent feels his client will be back alongside Mbeumo and Cunha when possible, though, and the three-man attack needs to be given time to work out an understanding.
‘Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko have played very few matches together,’ said Basanovic. ‘They need games, certain automatisms, and then things become easier.
‘When you don’t have to think about where a player is or where he’s going to run, but you do it automatically. Then the results come, and everything looks much better.’
Benjamin Sesko Premier League stats
Apps: 11
Goals: 2
Assists: 1
He added: ‘Manchester United did well in the transfer market this summer. They brought in some excellent players who will prove over the next few years that they deserve to wear this shirt. I believe that within the next two years, United can challenge for the very top spots.’
Amorim will be desperate to get Sesko back as soon as possible as he is about to lose Mbeumo, as well as Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui to the African Cup of Nations.
The Red Devils boss revealed that talks are still ongoing over whether the trio can play against Bournemouth on Monday before they depart for Morocco.
‘The club is talking with the national teams,’ Amorim said. ‘Let’s wait for the middle of the week. I don’t know for sure, but we are doing our job and the national teams are talking with us and that is a good sign.’