Swedish attacker steps up recovery in his homeland as Alasdair Gold confirms matchday bench timeline for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is edging closer to a first-team comeback after stepping up his fitness regime during his recent time off. The Swedish international has been putting in extra work behind the scenes in his homeland to prepare his body for a return to full contact training at Hotspur Way.
According to Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold, reporting via Hotspur Lane on X, Kulusevski took advantage of his schedule by utilizing training facilities in Sweden to maintain high athletic conditioning. The focus has now shifted to integrating the 26-year-old back into collective squad sessions alongside his teammates.
Gold provided an update regarding the winger’s condition and the planned timeline for his return to competitive action:
“Dejan Kulusevski has continued his work this week during his time off, using facilities in Sweden, and now it’s a case of him getting a bank of training time under his belt with his team-mates without any setbacks or little issues.”
“When that happens, he will take his place on the bench for THFC.”
Building Up Training Load Without Setbacks
The strategy surrounding Kulusevski’s integration is centered on patience and avoiding premature risk. Tottenham’s medical staff and coaching team want the forward to complete a full block of team training before making his matchday squad return. Ensuring he suffers no minor muscle issues or physical setbacks during high-intensity group sessions is the final hurdle before he is cleared for selection.
Once Kulusevski successfully completes this initial phase of full-squad work, he is expected to be named among the substitutes as a first step toward reaching full match sharpness.
Kulusevski’s pending return comes as a major boost for head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who is managing an attacking crisis during a difficult start to the 2026/27 Premier League campaign. Tottenham currently sit 20th in the table with just two points from five matches, having struggled significantly to convert chances in the final third.
The Swedish winger’s ball-carrying ability, vision, and work rate have been sorely missed in the final third. Whether deployed on the right flank or as an inverted central attacking midfielder, Kulusevski offers a creative profile that can unlock stubborn defensive blocks.
While Spurs will remain cautious with his workload, having Kulusevski back on the substitutes’ bench will provide De Zerbi with a proven game-changer capable of making an immediate impact during crucial second-half periods.
