Manchester United’s problems have deepened with Benjamin Sesko expected to be out until the New Year with an ongoing shin injury.

The Slovenia striker has been sidelined for the past six weeks with a recurrence of a shin problem that kept him out for almost four months previously.

Telegraph Sport understands that Sesko is not expected to play again this year as United continue to assess treatment options for the impact injury.

That would mean missing at least 13 more matches, starting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in a must-win game for embattled manager Michael Carrick.

Sesko last played for United in the 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat by Brighton on Sept 16 having only been back in action three and a half weeks after a lengthy lay off with the initial shin issue.

The 23-year-old featured in the opening-day defeat at Hull City having missed much of pre-season owing to the injury, which had kept him out since the 3-2 win over Liverpool on May 3.

Sesko had been battling the problem towards the end of last season and it eventually forced him to rest after he aggravated the issue against Liverpool when shoved into the perimeter boards by Ibrahima Konaté.

Carrick said earlier this month that the current injury was in a “similar area but it’s not the exact same thing again”.

“We’re still working through it a little bit to see how long the issue will be,” Carrick said then.

Sesko’s absence has deprived Carrick of his only recognised senior centre-forward and comes at a dreadful time with the team’s season in a tailspin and the attack missing a focal point.

Carrick has rotated between Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha through the middle in the main. Bruno Fernandes has also been used as a false nine.

United did not bring in cover for Sesko in the summer as they focused their budget on three midfield signings and Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee, whom the club were hoping to sell, has not convinced as a back up and has only been used sparingly by Carrick.

Sesko had enjoyed an encouraging debut season at Old Trafford following his £73.7m move from RB Leipzig last year. His injury is one of several United have been wrestling with this season, but few have proven more damaging with his absence robbing the team of goals, pace and a big physical presence upfront.

There was some good news for Carrick on Wednesday with midfielder Kobbie Mainoo returning to training after missing the last four games.

But United remain without a raft of players including Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte.