Benjamin Šeško has apologised to Slovenian supporters after withdrawing from their forthcoming fixtures, saying the priority was to remain at Manchester United and concentrate on recovery.

The striker, who also missed United’s flat draw with Fulham on Sunday, is now back in the treatment room with the same problem. United have confirmed that their forward will “undergo tests” this week, while The Athletic have reported that a “period of rest” may still be needed after the international break ends.

In a post on Instagram, Šeško said: “I am very sorry that I will have to miss the national team’s upcoming matches,” Šeško wrote on Instagram. “I have always played for Slovenia—and always will—with heart and pride. Right now, the most important thing is to focus fully on my recovery. I am already working on getting back on the pitch as soon as possible to help both the national team and my club once again.”

The issue has been building for some time. Šeško said the shin problem began last spring and was made worse by his own decision to keep pushing through it. “I got a kick last season, but it was also a little bit of an overload from myself,” he admitted recently.

That drive has long defined him. He was known for arriving 90 minutes before team-mates and staying behind long after training had finished, a habit that nearly tested Ruben Amorim’s patience. “I’m relaxed,” the Portuguese boss said during Šeško’s debut season. “[But] he’s not relaxed.”

Šeško also acknowledged that the summer recovery required patience. “We just need a little bit longer, longer than usual, because if you start too early, it might appear again,” he explained. “And I think waiting a little bit longer was a great decision.”

Even so, this setback may indicate that the pause was not long enough. With tests still to come, his return date remains unclear, although the three-week international break should limit the damage. There is still a real chance he will not be ready for United’s match against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, Oct. 10.

A new Premier League campaign is usually a time for resets, and this season has offered a longer runway than most for players to settle in. Some have taken advantage. Others, including several high-profile names, have yet to find any rhythm at all.

That contrast has made the early weeks of 2026/27 a useful moment to separate the encouraging from the disappointing. Here, then, are six of the season’s most underwhelming performers so far.

Florian Wirtz has already drawn heavy criticism after another subdued display at Bournemouth. Jamie Carragher was particularly blunt, saying that he doesn’t believe Wirtz “is in poor form; what we’re seeing is what he is.” Liverpool had hoped the €117.5 million arrival would kick on in his second season, but he has started this campaign with only one assist and too often looks peripheral rather than decisive.

Manchester United’s struggles are collective, but several individuals have also fallen short. The side sit 12th with five points and one league win, while Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha and the new midfield additions have yet to impose themselves. Bryan Mbeumo has been pushed wide and has found one-on-one situations difficult, even if he has scored twice.

At Arsenal, Viktor Gyökeres has not convinced. He scored 14 league goals and five more in Europe last season, but this time he has been limited to just 29 Premier League minutes and enters October without a goal.

Sandro Tonali’s move to Tottenham Hotspur carried a huge price tag, yet the early return has been modest. He can carry the ball and protect transitions, but he still looks better suited to a more balanced midfield around him.

Chelsea’s switch from Robert Sánchez to Emiliano Martínez was framed as a statement of intent, but Martínez has conceded 10 goals in four league appearances and remains exposed by the team’s defensive structure.

Dominic Solanke completes the list. Tottenham’s attack has lacked control and reliability, and the striker looks well below the standard needed right now.

The Premier League have acknowledged a “significant” VAR error in the build-up to Erling Haaland’s winner in the Manchester derby, but the admission brings no practical comfort to Michael Carrick or his side.

The goal stood after officials decided not to focus on Fernández’s involvement, a call that left Carrick and Lisandro Martínez frustrated. Their argument was straightforward: Haaland was left free in the box only because he had been drawn away to deal with Fernández.

Before a meeting with representatives from all 20 clubs, the league issued a letter that, according to The Times, accepted a serious mistake had been made. It described early-season officiating as being overshadowed by a major VAR failure in the match between Manchester United and Manchester City on Sunday, Sept. 13.

“Despite a positive start, early season officiating performance has been overshadowed by a significant VAR error in the Manchester United vs. Manchester City match on Sunday, Sept. 13,” the letter reads.

“The VAR did not recognize an offside offense by Enzo Fernández and incorrectly overturned the original decision of offside to allow the goal to stand. Pro Ref are undertaking a full review of the incident, which will be reviewed by the Premier League, with learnings being adopted immediately.”

For United, the acknowledgement may at least offer honesty, but it does nothing to alter the outcome of a match that will remain defined by the controversy around the winning goal.

The more meaningful consequences are expected to emerge behind the scenes, particularly in how VAR operates during matches.

Comparable incidents are rare because they tend not to involve clear rule misreadings. One of the closest examples came in September 2023, when Liverpool had a goal wrongly disallowed in a 2–1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Luis Díaz was incorrectly flagged for offside after scoring, even though a VAR review showed he was onside. A communication breakdown meant the VAR official believed the goal had initially been allowed, and the mistake led to the goal being ruled out.

That case prompted major process changes, with VAR officials instructed to confirm the final verdict of their reviews alongside updated communication guidelines.