Tottenham midfielder Dejan Kulusevski recently suffered a minor setback in his recovery from a serious knee problem.
Dejan Kulusevski returned to full training at Tottenham Hotspur at the start of September, after more than 15 months out injured.
The 26-year-old had been increasing his training in recent weeks, as he works steadily towards a comeback from a difficult knee injury which has kept him out since May 2025. He injured his right patella during a Premier League game against Crystal Palace on 11 May 2025 and underwent surgery three days later.
The Sweden international was expected to be sidelined for only a few months. However, his recovery stalled, leading to a second operation in March 2026. As a result, Dejan Kulusevski missed the entirety of Tottenham’s last campaign. The recurring setbacks ultimately forced the creative midfielder to miss the summer World Cup.
Graham Potter explains decision to exclude Dejan Kulusevski from Sweden squad for the upcoming games
Kulusevski has continued to work hard towards a return to full fitness. Roberto De Zerbi, who included the 26-year-old in his Premier League squad for the season, recently admitted that the player has suffered a minor setback in his recovery.
Sweden boss Graham Potter remains highly optimistic about the player’s progress. He is desperate to welcome the attacker back into the international fold. However, Kulusevski has not been selected in the Sweden squad for the UEFA Nations League group-stage fixtures against Romania and Poland later this month.
Now, Graham Potter has explained his reasoning behind not picking Kulusevski for the games in the upcoming international break.
“He [Kulusevski] is taking it step by step. First, he has to be involved with Tottenham, and they are the ones who ultimately decide. They see him every day and can best make the decision. When he is not involved there, it is difficult for us to take him out – even if we want to,” Potter told Swedish outlet Fotboll Skanalen (h/t Sport Witness).
“Dejan is a top player, but we understand and respect the situation he is in. He is not far away, but when you have been away for so long it is important to be careful with the final stage of rehabilitation.”
Now, Potter’s latest update on Kulusevski is a mixed one. The midfielder not getting picked for Nations League’s fixtures should not surprise anyone, given he has been out for so long. Without full recovery, match sharpness, rhythm and conditioning, there was no chance for the Tottenham star to make the cut for the Sweden squad.
This shows the 26-year-old still has some way to go to prove his fitness to the Tottenham medical department. At the same time, Potter mentioning the “final stage of rehab” should restore hope within the White Hart Lane faithful that Kulusevski is on the right track towards fitness.
