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Benjamin Sesko has been at the centre of a club-versus-country disagreement after he picked up an injury in the late stages of Manchester United's 2-2 draw against Tottenham

The Football Association of Slovenia has moved to bring an end to the club-versus-country row involving Benjamin Sesko. The forward picked up a knee injury during Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday.

He had been due to link up with the Slovenia national team for their World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Sweden, but did not report for international duty at the Slovenian FA’s headquarters in Brdo pri Kranju on Monday and has instead stayed at Carrington for further treatment on an injury that is not thought to be serious.

But Slovenia manager Matjaz Kek was left furious by the call for Sesko to remain in Manchester and claimed he had been kept in the dark by United.

He demanded his country be shown "maximum respect" and even threatened, according to the Daily Mail, to cause a "diplomatic incident", as he would have preferred his own doctors to examine the forward.

But despite Kek’s claims, Slovenia’s national federation has revealed it has received all the relevant medical documentation and accepted United’s diagnosis as they aim to put the row to bed.

“The medical team of the Slovenian national football team received the complete medical documentation from Manchester United regarding Benjamin Sesko’s health condition following his injury on Saturday, including the current clinical picture and the examinations performed,” a spokesperson told the Daily Mail.

“Unfortunately, the injury currently does not allow for the training process. In the coming days, additional examinations and the start of treatment are planned at the club, so Benjamin will unfortunately not be able to participate in this national team action. We wish Benjamin a speedy recovery and a return to the football field as soon as possible.”

United believe they followed the necessary protocols in terms of withdrawing Sesko from the squad. However, a furious Kek claimed earlier this week: “With all due respect to a great club like Manchester United, we have officially not received anything yet; no papers, no documents.

“We would certainly like to get them. We want our medical team to also take a look at it. Our doctor is an expert in this field. We don’t have just anyone in this position.

“I cannot comment, of course I have certain information and I am also in contact with Beni. I can’t say anything because officially we don’t know anything at all.

“United haven’t contacted anyone from our camp. Of course, I am concerned about the player. The only thing that matters to me is his wellbeing."

He added: “The national team is something very special and I expect maximum respect from everyone.

“Slovenia deserves that, even if on the other side there is a powerhouse like England, and something as extraordinary as the Premier League. After all it has been quite some time since England defeated Slovenia and that in itself says something about us.”

Former Spurs owner Joe Lewis avoided jail in 2024 but was fined £4million after pleading guilty to insider trading, and now US President Donald Trump is set to hand him an official pardon

Former Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis is set to receive an official pardon from United States President Donald Trump. Lewis, who handed ownership of Spurs to the Lewis Family Trust in 2022, was fined £4million after pleading guilty to insider trading – but it has been said that he will not return to the north London club.

Lewis avoided jail in 2024 after a judge in the States heard pleas for leniency from the prosecutor and the 88-year-old's attorneys due to his frail health and guilty plea in January.

The US president has issued a number of pardons since returning to the White House after succeeding Joe Biden, and the former chief of the Premier League club is set to be the latest to receive one, according to The Telegraph.

A pardon in the US is a presidential act that legally forgives a federal crime, which can end further punishment and restore civil rights. The crimes, according to federal guidelines, can carry up a sentence up to two years in prison, but Lewis will not spent time behind bars.

Lewis' pardon is due to be published by the White House today and the British billionaire said: "I am pleased all of this is now behind me, and I can enjoy retirement and watch as my family and extended family continue to build our businesses based on the quality and pursuit of excellence that has become our trademark."

The Lewis family took full control of Tottenham this year following the departure of Daniel Levy, and the club will continue to run within the Lewis name, but the former owner will remain retired.

The Tottenham hierarchy now consists of Joe's daughter Vivienne, son Charles and Vivienne's husband Nick Beucher. Eric Hinson joined the club as a non-executive director last month, he will now work alongside non-executive chairman Peter Charrington is alongside chief executive Vinai Venkatesham.

In September, Levy's spell as chairman in north London came to an end after nearly 25 years.

It was reported at the time that his departure would see the club move towards a more orthodox structure, as opposed to one centred around a single figure.

Confirming his departure in a statement, former chairman Levy said: "I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees.

"We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level. More than that, we have built a community.

"I was lucky enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport, from the team at Lilywhite House and Hotspur Way to all the players and managers over the years.

"I wish to thank all the fans that have supported me over the years. It hasn't always been an easy journey but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately."

Manchester United are sweating on the fitness of Benjamin Sesko after the striker suffered a knee injury in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Tottenham, with Ivan Toney a potential replacement

Manchester United may be forced to delve into the January transfer market for a new striker after Benjamin Sesko was sidelined with a knee injury during Saturday's 2-2 draw against Tottenham.

Sesko, who came on as a substitute in the 58th minute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, could only manage half an hour before he had to be helped off the pitch following treatment for a knee issue. The Red Devils were left a man short for the remainder of the match as manager Ruben Amorim had already made all his substitutions.

On Monday, United confirmed that Sesko would not be joining up with his national team for Slovenia's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Sweden. Instead, the 23-year-old will stay put at Carrington for further assessment this week.

Although insiders suggest the injury isn't considered too serious, there are whispers that United might consider bringing in another centre forward when the January transfer window swings open.

Should United decide to bolster their attacking options, one name that could be in the frame is Ivan Toney. The England international has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for some time, and this could be the ideal opportunity for him to make the switch.

Toney, now 29, has been plying his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli for the past 15 months, having signed for them in August 2024. During his stint in the Middle East, he's netted an impressive 41 goals and provided eight assists in 59 appearances.

With Toney having scored 11 goals in just 15 matches this season, it seems he has some unfinished business in the Premier League. He previously dazzled for three years at Brentford, where he netted 36 goals in 83 top-tier games between 2021 and 2024.

The former Northampton and Peterborough player was a key figure in a Brentford attack that also included United's Bryan Mbeumo.

Mbeumo and Toney were teammates in west London for four years, helping to establish the Bees as a Premier League club. They formed a formidable partnership on the pitch, with Toney and Mbeumo scoring or assisting each other 16 times during that period.

Although Mbeumo is set to miss part of January due to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), he could reignite his special relationship with Toney at United upon his return. Even if Sesko's absence isn't long-term, Toney would provide United with another attacking option and potentially pave the way for Joshua Zirkzee to leave the club after struggling for game time.

A front three of Mbeumo on the right, Toney in the centre and Matheus Cunha on the left could prove devastating for United and Amorim in the second half of the season.

Toney, who is valued at around £40million and has two-and-a-half years remaining on his Al-Ahli contract, will turn 30 in March. This could prompt United to try and negotiate a lower price and persuade him to make the move.

Richarlison thought he had won the game for Tottenham against Manchester United, but was booked for taking his shirt off in celebration, and Gary Lineker has called for a rule change

Gary Lineker wants to see a change in Premier League rules after Richarlison was shown a yellow card for celebrating his goal for Tottenham against Manchester United by removing his shirt. Spurs were on the brink of securing only their fourth Premier League home victory in 2025 when the Brazilian found the back of the net.

However, Matthijs de Ligt managed to score a dramatic equaliser at the last minute. Earlier, Mathys Tel had levelled the scoreline after Bryan Mbeumo's first-half header. Richarlison then thought he had won it for Spurs and celebrated his goal by taking off his shirt.

Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker expressed that although it was an imprudent act by the ex-Everton player, it's high time the rules were revised.

He stated: "Richarlison thought he'd won the game for Tottenham, didn't he, ripping off his shirt, and then obviously they get extra time for that, and then they're scoring that extra time."

"I think it's a stupid law to get a yellow card, and obviously, if it happens in injury time, you get extended injury time. But also, even though it's a silly law, you know what it is, and I just don't understand why.

"I know you can get overexcited, but you can get overexcited by doing something else other than rip your bloody shirt off.

"It's a bit daft, but I get it. It's a big goal for him, and he thought at the time he'd won the game. But I mean, honestly, footballers, Micah."

Micah Richards chimed in: "You know what? I can't even grumble at the fact that he's taking off his shirt, because he's playing it in real life. I feel that way on Fantasy Football, so I understand you."

Reflecting on United's last-minute equaliser, Spurs boss Thomas Frank said: "A lot of things we could have done a bit better, the last one is all about the urgency, maybe don't give the cross away and defend better.

"Second half we got more bite in the man to man pressure, which was not working as it should have been in the first half."

Frank added: "Of course it's not that I'm going away from here and not being disappointed at leading with one minute to go and you don't win, that will always be the case.

"What I'm focussing on is especially that the second half was a good performance. I was very happy with the way we turned it around.

"We stayed in the game, did the right thing, keep pushing - in a game when two teams neutralise each other you don't create too much, that's natural, but how the boys kept fighting was hugely impressive."

Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 2-2 draw by Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday, with Thomas Frank's side scoring two late goals to salvage a point

Theo Walcott has jumped to Thomas Frank's defence after Tottenham Hotspur supporters voiced their frustration during the dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester United. The Danish boss was subject to jeers from Spurs fans when he hauled off Xavi Simons in the closing stages of the match.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who joined the north London outfit from RB Leipzig for £52m in the summer transfer window, made way for Mathys Tel. Moments after entering the fray, Simons' replacement found the back of the net, firing home an equaliser from close range.

A few minutes later, Wilson Odobert, who had been introduced at the interval, set up what many believed to be the winner. Richarlison diverted the 20-year-old winger's curling effort past the Senne Lammens with a deft header.

Frank made numerous changes throughout the game, with some decisions proving more welcomed than others. However, the Dane ultimately breathed new life into his team, and they came within moments of securing all three points.

Speaking on Match of the Day on Saturday evening, Walcott called on Tottenham supporters to 'trust the process'. The former Arsenal forward said: "I don't think the Tottenham fans felt he got the substitutions right when he made them, to be honest.

"Odobert was absolutely outstanding when he came on. A player who has to be able to take risks and play with that freedom and the energy, and that's what you have to be able to do as a substitute; you need to be able to commit bodies.

"What I like about him, he likes to put the ball in when you have space, he likes to change his game – and this is what I talk about when I talk about not being predictable – when you give players, who are ball-carriers, in this amount of space, Manchester United start dropping."

Frank rang the changes throughout the encounter. He switched Pedro Porro for Destiny Udogie, introduced Rodrigo Bentancur in place of Joao Palhinha, and replaced Kevin Danso with Cristian Romero.

Walcott continued: "Udogie was fantastic as well, all three substitutions who came on all contributed. It just shows, trust the manager's process.

"I think that's one thing, as fans, when you watch games, you always feel frustrated in the moment, but they are there for a reason. Thomas Frank is a good manager, he knows exactly what he's doing and he's made the right decision."

Speaking to reporters at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the match, Frank reflected on the substitutions he had made. The Spurs boss said: "Yeah, sometimes you are lucky.

"But, of course, every single time I take a decision to sub a player it's with one aim - to make the team win or get back into the game or try to see the game out.

"It's with only one aim - to try to win the game. No doubt, Mathys did well, great goal, great involvement and in general I think Xavi played a fine game, positive, but also you need a bit of freshness."

Manchester United shared the spoils as they visited Tottenham on Saturday afternoon but one player has been singled out for a lacklustre performance

Alan Shearer reckons one Manchester United player was completely lost during their clash with Tottenham. United surrendered a 1-0 advantage to draw 2-2 in the capital.

Bryan Mbeumo gave Ruben Amorim's men the edge before half-time on Saturday and Spurs didn't find their equaliser until the 84th minute when Mathys Tel struck back.

Richarlison appeared to have clinched victory for the home side during stoppage time, only for Matthijs de Ligt to nod home a dramatic leveller.

While there were encouraging displays throughout the United squad, legendary Newcastle and England frontman Shearer reckons one forward was particularly disappointing in the Premier League deadlock.

Benjamin Sesko found himself benched by Amorim for the trip to north London but entered the fray on 58 minutes. However, he struggled to leave his mark on proceedings.

The 22-year-old Slovenian, who moved to Old Trafford for £74million during the summer, wasted a golden opportunity in the 85th minute before limping off with a knee problem.

Shearer is convinced that Sesko endured a woeful substitute appearance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and should have converted at least one of the two excellent chances that came his way.

"Sesko struggled again," confessed Shearer on Match of the Day. "He's only scored twice in his 12 appearances and he came on today with just over half an hour to go.

"He had two really, really good chances and should have scored, to be honest. They worked it really well for him to get in the first time. He's either got to get his shot away early or he's got to push that ball forward quicker. He's not going to get that amount of time in the Premier League to work it back on his right foot."

Shearer turned his attention to the golden opportunity Sesko squandered moments before his injury setback, when Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven tracked back to deny him.

"This one [the 85th-minute chance] is the bigger puzzle for me," Shearer added. "I know he's struggling for confidence but any centre-forward knows you cannot allow the centre-half to come back at you.

"You've got to get across Van de Ven. By that time he should have a picture in his head of where the keeper is and what he wants to do. I don't think he has a clue what he wants to do.

"I don't even think he even knows Van de Ven is there and chasing him. I know he's struggling with confidence but it's a big 'must do better'.

"No one likes to see him coming off injured and we hope his knee is okay but they are two chances you'd expect at that level that someone has to put away."

Man Utd news: Ruben Amorim appeals to ex-Chelsea striker after Benjamin Sesko 'struggles'

Manchester United played out a dramatic 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in London early Saturday afternoon

Manchester United grabbed a point at the death in their 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Saturday. Ruben Amorim's side looked to have been stung by a late Richarlison header but Matthijs de Ligt rose from an added-time corner to split the spoils.

Amorim's men opened the scoring after 32 minutes through Bryan Mbeumo and held on until six minutes from time, when Mathys Tel levelled things. Spurs' Richarlison thought he'd won the match but De Ligt had other ideas.

The closing stages of this 2-2 draw were played without Benjamin Sesko. The striker, who arrived this summer from RB Leipzig for £74million, replaced Noussair Mazraoui in the 58th minute but after squandering an opportunity in the 85th, limped off with a leg injury and left United with 10 men for the final moments.

Before the match, his manager made a stark admission about the 22-year-old's struggles. Mirror Football brings you all the latest updates from Old Trafford, including an appeal involving a former Chelsea star and a transfer target's stark admission.

Benjamin Sesko handed home truths

Before the clash against Tottenham, Amorim was asked about Sesko's early tenure as a United player. The Slovenian has scored just twice this season and his head coach admits he has struggled.

His problems are expected to continue after limping out of that draw with a knee injury.

"I'm relaxed. He's not relaxed," said Amorim, before dropping Sesko from the starting XI against Tottenham. "He has no experience here, and then the first impact when everyone says that you are so good, you are the next big thing – and you hear about that with Sesko – and then you come to one club that is the hardest club.

"To have the ability to understand that is normal and still maintain your level of confidence is really hard for a young kid, especially for a young kid that is a control freak. He wants to control everything, and he's not going to control everything.

"Of course, nobody likes to hear it, but he struggled a little bit and that is a fact. So let's embrace that. It's not personal, it's not nothing. That is what I try to explain to the players. That is not personal. It's an opinion that is going to change in three weeks."

Bryan Mbeumo appeal made to ex-Chelsea man

Mbeumo continued his fine run of form in north London, opening the scoring with a deft header just after 30 minutes. However, the club could be without him for a stretch of games in late December.

The Cameroonian is due to report for international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations on December 21 and would miss at least two matches. But according to The Sun, United would like to strike a deal with Cameroon in order to allow Mbeumo to play in games against Bournemouth on December 13 and Aston Villa on December 21.

It is thought the club will appeal to the Cameroon FA, led by former Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o, and ask that Mbeumo remain in England until after these matches have concluded.

Sources indicate that Eto'o and Co. are open to negotiation surrounding this issue, which could mean Mbeumo arrives late for Cameroon's opening fixture against Gabon on December 24. Regardless, should Cameroon progress in the competition, Mbeumo could be missing up until the final on January 18.

Adam Wharton responds to transfer rumours

A player who has been linked with a move to United in recent weeks is Crystal Palace starlet Adam Wharton. The English midfielder has impressed under Oliver Glasner and is one of the Premier League's hottest properties.

He spoke to The Athletic about rumours linking him with a move away from Selhurst Park, and mentioned United in particular. Wharton said: "I don't know who's spreading it or who at United is looking at it. I see it, and I'm like, 'Okay,' and then I carry on with my day.

"United, the big teams, they're all linked to 10, 20 different players. If I'm one of 20, then it's nothing special, so it doesn't really mean too much. I speak with my agent about planning ahead and possibilities.

"But at the end of the day, it is who's interested and who's willing to try and get you and if that becomes the case? You can speak about it, but you've got to represent that on the pitch and prove that you deserve it."

Manchester United managed to salvage a point against Tottenham Hotspur in North London, but one Red Devils star has been the target of some severe criticism from pundits

Benjamin Sesko has been told he was ‘not ready’ for Manchester United after his injury setback. The Slovenian striker started as a substitute in the Red Devils’ 2-2 draw with Tottenham in North London.

However, he lasted less than half-an-hour before he was taken off with an injury. Former United and Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov gave his verdict on the Slovenian and suggested that he was not as prepared as he could have been ahead of coming on.

Speaking to Premier League Productions, Berbatov said: “I want to be supportive, I sympathise with his situation. Yes, he needed to do better, maybe take the ball more to his left foot so this way it eliminates the defender, but we cannot take away the tackle from Mickey van de Ven as well, great, great tackle.

“Maybe that lack of confidence, playing minutes, it affects a player. Then when you get injured out of it, it shows maybe you are not ready to step into the game at full speed.”

Meanwhile, former Spurs star Jermain Defoe had a very similar opinion of Sesko’s outing and suggested he was not ready to take to the pitch. He added: “I said before the game, for a centre forward…

"When you’re rested or dropped, whatever it is, you’re not in the team and you’re disappointed, but make sure you’re ready to come on, because you can change the game, you get a moment or a chance and you can change the game.

“I’m not saying it was an easy chance because it was a great tackle, but at the same time, when you go through it’s conviction. The first touch always makes the goal, if you take the ball away from the defender then you can go and finish.

“When he watches it back he’ll be disappointed, he didn’t actually have a shot at goal and he ends up getting injured but that’s why you have to be ready to come on and make an impact.”

What's caused Sesko's slow start to life with Manchester United? Share your thoughts in the comments below

Sesko’s afternoon lasted less than half an hour and Ruben Amorim has revealed that he would undergo further testing for a potential knee injury. Speaking after the full-time whistle, he said:“We have to check, he had something in his knee. We have to see.”

The United boss added: “Because it’s the knee we never know [how serious the injury is]. We need Ben to be a better team.”

Man Utd stars respond as injury issues mount for Ruben Amorim after Tottenham draw

Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday in the Premier League, and ended the match with ten men after already making all their five substitutions

Casemiro has branded the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur as a battle after three Manchester United stars limped off with knocks. The Brazilian midfielder was amongst those casualties, hauled off alongside Harry Maguire, midway through the second half.

Matheus Cunha also came off, with Diogo Dalot following suit as Ruben Amorim used his final substitution. Benjamin Sesko was the first substitute to come on, but he went down after failing to take a late chance and could not carry on.

The striker had to limp down the tunnel, leaving United a man short for the closing stages in north London. Sesko has remained silent on social media following the clash.

However, both Casemiro and Maguire have broken their silence. The midfielder posted: "What a battle in London, lads! !".

Maguire also shared his thoughts separately. "Frustrated we couldn't bring the 3 points back with us, but the lads showed spirit and fight till the end," his message read.

Amorim addressed all three casualties following the final whistle. "When we have to take out Maguire and Casemiro at the same time, then suffer two goals, then losing Ben, you have to overcome everything," he explained.

Discussing Sesko specifically, he added: "I'm concerned with an injury, because it is in the knee, and I don't know. We need Ben [Sesko] to be a better team. We have to check. He has something in his knee. Let's see."

Amorim also spoke about the winter transfer window: “We have to check everything. We have to check what's happened with Ben.

"Of course, we already knew we would have a problem there [with AFCON], but we already knew. You can prepare that in the summer.

"You have a lot of players that are not going to play because it's one game a week. So you have to manage that situation; it's going to be hard.

"Let’s see when the window is open, if we can improve the team, to see if we can repair something that's happened. We'll see."

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Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw by Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon to stretch their unbeaten to five games thanks to Matthijs de Ligt's late leveller

Tottenham's Mathys Tel has confessed that the Spurs squad were disappointed they didn't manage to secure a win against Manchester United. Thomas Frank's side failed to hold onto their lead against United when Matthijs de Ligt scored late on.

United took the lead in the first half, with Bryan Mbeumo finding the back of the net from an exquisite cross by Amad but Spurs managed to level the score at 84 minutes thanks to a deflected shot from Tel. When Richarlison scored during extra time, it seemed like United's unbeaten streak was about to end.

However, De Ligt's last-minute header salvaged a draw for the visitors. Speaking to TNT Sports post-match, Tel expressed the mixed feelings within the Tottenham team. "The feeling is 50-50," he conceded.

"We concede one goal, we were losing. Second half our reaction was good, we changed the game.", reports the Manchester Evening News. "But we're also mad because we had to win today. But this is football, we have to keep going and keep working."

When quizzed about what Thomas Frank told his team during the interval, Tel revealed: "We were told to just bring new energy, we needed energy to change the game and that's what we did. We showed great mentality, we deserved to win this game."

For United, the biggest concern was Benjamin Sesko's departure. The striker was introduced from the bench in the 58th minute but lasted just half an hour after suffering a knee problem.

Asked if the injury was serious, Amorim said: "I have no idea. Because it's the knee, we never know."

With Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui heading to the Africa Cup of Nations next month, United will be sweating over the availability of their attackers. And Amorim was asked if the severity of Sesko's injury could impact their January plans.

"We have to check everything, we have to check what has happened with Ben," he said.

United will resume their quest for a Champions League qualification spot after the November international break. The Tottenham result extends United's unbeaten run to five games, following their second consecutive draw.

Once the international break concludes, United will welcome Everton to Old Trafford on Monday, November 24 before heading to Crystal Palace the subsequent Sunday. The comfortable run of fixtures continues with two games in four days when they face West Ham United and Wolves.