Kulusevski opens up on injury battle as Potter plans his return
Dejan Kulusevski's long road back from injury is the talk of Tottenham this week, with the midfielder speaking candidly about his recovery just as he returns to international duty with Sweden.
The Evening Standard reports that Kulusevski has revealed some Tottenham staff were sceptical he would ever recover from the knee injury that ruled him out for 18 months (Evening Standard). In a similarly striking admission, Football.London says Kulusevski has detailed a "drastic" proposal from a doctor that he rejected before eventually making his return to the pitch (Football.London). That comeback came last month in Tottenham's 3-1 win over Coventry City, according to Football.London, and it has since earned him his first Sweden call-up in two years (Football.London).
With Kulusevski now away on international duty, Graham Potter has been speaking about how the club plan to manage his workload. Football.London reports that Potter sent Kulusevski a "classy message" and confirmed the club's injury plan, with the forward now in line to make his first Sweden appearance in two years following his extended spell on the sidelines (Football.London). Spurs Web echoes this, saying Potter has revealed how he intends to use Kulusevski during the international break after recalling him to the squad, adding that fans will take heart from the head coach's comments and from Kulusevski's "tremendous strength of" character through the ordeal (Spurs Web).
Across the reports, there's clear agreement that Kulusevski's return from such a long-term injury is being treated carefully by both Potter and the Sweden camp, with his comeback against Coventry City marking a significant turning point. The outlets differ slightly in focus: the Evening Standard and Football.London (Football.London) concentrate on Kulusevski's own words about doubt and the medical advice he turned down, while Football.London (Football.London) and Spurs Web zero in on Potter's management of his minutes going forward.
For Spurs supporters, the overriding feeling is one of relief and admiration - relief that Kulusevski is finally back on the pitch after such a gruelling 18-month absence, and admiration for how he's handled it. With Potter clearly keen to manage his return sensibly, fans will hope Kulusevski can build on his Coventry City outing and come back from Sweden duty ready to make a real impact for Tottenham this season.
Written with the help of AI, using the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.
