Tottenham Hotspur have received encouraging news regarding Dejan Kulusevski's recovery, with Sweden manager Graham Potter revealing that the midfielder is edging closer to full fitness after an injury nightmare that has kept him sidelined for almost a year and a half.
Kulusevski's ordeal began under former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, who initially suggested the issue was a relatively minor one. However, the situation proved far more complicated than first thought, requiring two separate surgical procedures. The 26-year-old has now been out of action for close to 500 days, a spell that has robbed Tottenham of one of their most creative and versatile attacking options.
Given the severity and complexity of the injury, Spurs have taken a deliberately cautious approach to his rehabilitation, resisting the temptation to rush him back prematurely. That patience appears to be paying dividends, with signs pointing toward an imminent return to first-team involvement.
There was a minor setback last week when Kulusevski was forced to step away from full training with the squad, but this has not dampened optimism at the club. Current head coach Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly enthusiastic about the prospect of having the Swedish international available for selection in the near future.
The timing is significant, with the first international break of the season looming. Potter, who manages the Swedish national team, has expressed cautious hope that Kulusevski could be included in his squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, while acknowledging that any final decision will depend on discussions with both the player and Tottenham.
"He's very close actually. I'm so impressed with him, how he's handled his injury," Potter told Swedish broadcaster SVT. "Of course we have to be careful with him. I hope he comes with us, but we have to talk to Dejan and Tottenham first."
Sweden are set to open their Nations League campaign in the final week of September, facing Romania twice as well as Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina during an extended three-week international window. Potter made clear just how much of a boost Kulusevski's presence would provide, both for club and country.
"The importance of getting Dejan Kulusevski into the national team cannot be emphasised enough," Potter said. "He is incredibly important to the team. We love him, his character and qualities. He is a world-class player, and it helps enormously to have him around."
For Tottenham, the prospect of welcoming back a player of Kulusevski's calibre represents a significant boost as the season progresses. His combination of technical quality, work rate and versatility across the front line had made him a key figure before his injury struck, and his absence has been keenly felt.
While the club will continue to exercise caution given the lengthy and complicated nature of his recovery, the tone from those closest to the situation suggests genuine optimism that a return to competitive action is finally within sight. Whether that comes in time for international duty with Sweden or simply marks the beginning of his reintegration at club level, the update will be welcomed by supporters eager to see the Swede back on the pitch after such a prolonged and testing absence.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.