Sweden head coach Graham Potter has given the clearest indication yet of when injured Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski might finally return.
Kulusevski sidelined since May with major knee problem
The 25-year-old has been out since Spurs’ 2–0 defeat to Crystal Palace in May, when he was taken off after 19 minutes with pain in his right patella. What initially appeared minor was later diagnosed as serious damage, leading to surgery on May 14 and ruling him out of the Europa League final victory over Manchester United.
Former manager Ange Postecoglou admitted the injury came as a surprise, saying early checks didn’t show structural issues, only for later scans to confirm significant damage. He warned Kulusevski would miss “at least a few months,” with no certainty about his availability for the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
Nearly seven months on, the winger has yet to feature under Thomas Frank, and his absence—alongside long-term ACL absentee James Maddison—has left Spurs short of creativity. Xavi Simons has been the only natural option in the No.10 role.
Although recent clips showed Kulusevski training during a rehab trip to Dubai, Frank has avoided giving any timeline, insisting he’ll only speak when players are “really close” to returning.
Potter lifts the lid on the injury — and hints at a comeback in March
Speaking to Fotbollskanalen (via Sport Witness), Potter revealed more detail than Spurs have to date. He suggested Kulusevski could be fit for Sweden’s World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine in March.
Potter said he met the winger recently and described the injury as “complicated,” though he noted Kulusevski is progressing well:
“He’s working hard, he’s positive, but when you’re close to a return you can still have small setbacks. It’s a long process.”
When asked directly about a March return, Potter was optimistic:
“I’m convinced. That’s my impression from talking to him and seeing his recovery. You can’t predict March exactly, but I’m confident he’ll be ready.”
Kulusevski’s prolonged layoff has surprised many, and Frank will be keen to get back a player who delivered 10 goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances last season. Spurs have struggled creatively without him and Maddison, but Potter’s comments suggest the wait for Kulusevski may finally be nearing its end.My
