Sesko and De Ligt Return as Manchester United Prepares for Season
On the eve of the Premier League kick-off, Manchester United finally had the sight they’d been waiting months to see: Benjamin Sesko and Matthijs de Ligt back in the thick of full group training.
It felt significant. Not just for the medical staff who have nursed them through long, frustrating spells, but for a dressing room about to step into a new campaign with questions hanging over its spine.
De Ligt back after back surgery ordeal
For De Ligt, this was more than just another session. The Dutch defender joined the full group for the first time since undergoing back surgery in May, the operation that followed the injury he suffered last November.
Since 30 November he has been a ghost presence in United colours, sidelined, then forced to watch the World Cup from home. His only recent taste of team work came in Dublin last week, when he managed just 15 minutes of training before stepping out.
This time he stayed. He completed the full session, a clear step forward in a rehabilitation that has dragged across two competitions and one major tournament.
Sesko sharp after missing pre-season
On the other side of the pitch, Sesko moved with the energy of a player desperate to make up for lost time.
The forward had missed United’s pre-season matches while recovering from a lower leg injury, the same problem that ruled him out of the club’s final three games of last season. Over the summer he was limited to individual work on the grass, ticking off sessions alone while his teammates travelled and played.
Tuesday morning looked different. Club staff described him as sharp, and there is growing optimism he could be involved in the squad to face Hull City next Saturday in the season opener. For a side that stumbled for goals at key moments last term, having Sesko back in the frame so early changes the complexion of the attack.
Mount precautionarily sidelined
Not everyone made it onto the pitch.
Mason Mount was the notable absentee from training after taking a stamp on his foot in the 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in Stockholm. The midfielder came away with a bruise and has since missed the final friendlies under Michael Carrick against Leeds United and Milan.
Club sources, cited by British outlet “The Sun”, stressed that Mount’s omission remains purely precautionary. With the season about to start, United appear unwilling to take any risks with a player expected to carry creative responsibility in midfield.
Transfer push continues behind the scenes
While the medical room delivered good news, the recruitment department stayed busy.
United still plan to complete new signings before the summer window shuts, with at least two additions on the agenda. The left-back position sits near the top of the list, with Lewis Hall identified as the preferred option as the club look to strengthen depth on that flank.
They also want a high-profile defensive midfielder to anchor the centre of the pitch alongside new arrivals Youri Tielemans and Andre Santos. It’s a clear statement: United do not intend to drift into the season short-handed.
With De Ligt and Sesko stepping back into the fold and reinforcements still targeted, the question is no longer whether United will be ready for Hull City. It’s how quickly this reshaped squad can turn promise into points.
