Dejan Kulusevski Links Up with Sweden Despite Injury Concerns Ahead of Crucial Play-Off
Dejan Kulusevski joined the Swedish national team on Wednesday as they gear up for a vital World Cup play-off semi-final clash against Ukraine.
The Tottenham Hotspur attacker has yet to feature this season after undergoing patella surgery last May, but he remains determined to support his country’s push to qualify for the tournament in North America.
According to Swedish outlet Aftonbladet, Kulusevski was seen limping during a training session — a development that could spark concern among Spurs supporters.
While he did not go into detail about his fitness, the winger sounded optimistic ahead of Thursday’s encounter in Valencia, confidently stating: “There will be a win, that’s my comment.”
Kulusevski continues to focus on his rehabilitation with the aim of returning before the season ends, although the nature of his injury means there are no guarantees. He was also observed in conversation with Sweden manager Graham Potter during training, while Alexander Isak was another notable absence for the Ukraine fixture.
Potter had earlier indicated that Kulusevski, currently in Spain, was expected to link up with the squad, emphasizing that his presence around the team would be beneficial at this stage of recovery.
Meanwhile, Spurs interim boss Igor Tudor revealed he had no new update on the player prior to the club’s 3-0 Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest, though there is growing optimism that James Maddison could return before the end of the campaign.
The 25-year-old previously enjoyed an outstanding season, registering 10 goals and 11 assists across all competitions and playing a significant role in Ange Postecoglou’s side that went on to win the UEFA Europa League in Bilbao, despite missing the final.
In recent months, there have also been unverified reports linking Kulusevski with a visit to renowned Barcelona-based knee specialist Ramon Cugat. Back in December, former Spurs manager Thomas Frank disclosed that the player had received an injection, with the club closely monitoring his recovery, although updates since then have remained limited.
