Benjamin Sesko set for lengthy Man Utd injury absence

The Slovenia international has been unavailable since United's Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton last month after suffering a shin injury.

Sesko has scored twice this season, finding the net against Everton and Sabah, but his absence is set to leave Carrick short of attacking options during an important period of the campaign.

United are still assessing the injury and have yet to establish a return date, with the forward continuing his recovery.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Chelsea, Carrick admitted the situation was disappointing for both the player and the club.

"Unfortunately, Ben looks like he's going to be out for a period of time," Carrick said.

"We're still not clear on exactly how long, but it's going to be a longer period of time."

Carrick explained that United had been monitoring the injury to determine how it responded to treatment before deciding on the next steps.

"We had to go through the process, a bit of a healing process for the injury, to see how it would react and in what direction to go with that," he added.

The United boss acknowledged that the setback was particularly frustrating for Sesko, who has been working hard to overcome the problem.

"It's unfortunate. Obviously, first and foremost, for Ben, for the kind of period that he's had and tried to get through it.

"Going through this again, and for us to not have him available, is obviously a blow, but we'll try to get him back as quick as we can."

United travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday to face Chelsea, with Sesko ruled out as Carrick looks to guide his side up the Premier League table.