Manchester United’s National League Cup game against Tamworth was forced to be abandoned due to a head injury sustained by Reds midfielder Sekou Kone, with the fixture in the first half
00:01, 14 Aug 2025Updated 00:06, 14 Aug 2025
The game was abandoned after Seskou sustained a serious head injury
Manchester United were forced to abandon their under-21s match against Tamworth after a player was stretchered off the field.
United’s young player, Sekou Kone, is conscious and in a stable condition after sustaining a head injury during a match against Tamworth.
In the latter stage of the opening half of the Under-21s’ National League Cup game against Tamworth, Kone was involved in a bad collision and was still on the ground when the referee blew the whistle for the break as he received treatment. The 19-year-old suffered a bang to the head when defending a corner at The Lamb Ground.
Seskou is conscious and talking
Kone received medical treatment and was transported to hospital by ambulance. As there was no ambulance remaining at the venue, the match could not continue and was therefore abandoned.
United have since issued a statement regarding Kone’s condition.
The statement read: “Manchester United’s National League Cup game at Tamworth was abandoned close to the end of the first half.
“The tie was halted due to a head injury suffered by Reds midfielder Sekou Kone, inside his own box, and the youngster was taken off on a stretcher.
“We can confirm Sekou is conscious, stable and communicating with United’s medical team.
“He has been taken to hospital, as a precaution, for further checks.
“Everybody at the club wishes him a speedy recovery.”
Seskou has been on the bench for Amorim’s first team a few times
Kone transferred from Malian club Guidars FC to United for a fee of around £1million a year ago. The midfielder has yet to feature in a competitive fixture for the United senior side but came on as a substitute against Asean All Stars and Hong Kong. He has been on the bench for Amorim’s team for the match against Tottenham in February, as well as Everton and Nottingham Forest.
United’s U21s are in Group A of the cup competition and will also play Brackley, Rochdale and Solihull Moors before the knockout stage. In the starting line-up against Tamworth, Kone was joined by Chido Obi, who was a regular feature of Ruben Amorim’s first team squad at the end of last season.
He was also joined by goalkeepers Dermot Mee and Will Murdock, defenders Tyler Fredricson and Ayden Heaven, midfielders Toby Collyer and Jack Fletcher, and forwards Bendito Mantato, Obi and Ethan Williams.
“We have a long way to go,” Under-21 coach Travis Binnion told MEN in April. “He broke down at Huddersfield, whereas now he can get through three games in a week. At the next level, first-team level, he wouldn’t be able to because he’s not quite there yet, but his decision-making will make that easier for him physically.
“If he’s not in the right position or he makes the wrong decision, the game then opens up and it’s harder to be consistently in the right positions. It’s a long-term project with him, but his ability is there for all to see.
“I think the position he plays in on the pitch requires a lot of discipline, and we’re working on that discipline and decision-making. He is a really good player, but you can see tonight he’s had three, four or five shots and it’s like, there aren’t too many No.6s who are getting into the areas he is.
“You don’t want to stifle that completely, but if he’s not in the right area of the pitch, then it’s harder for the team to function and it’s harder for him to develop, so he’s working really hard through training and language support.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.