Kulusevski Returns as Tottenham Beat Coventry After 526-Day Layoff

Dejan Kulusevski has made his long-awaited Tottenham Hotspur return, appearing as an 86th-minute substitute in Monday’s 3-1 Premier League win over Coventry City after 526 days away from competitive action.

The 26-year-old Sweden international had not played since sustaining a serious knee problem against Crystal Palace on the final day of the 2024-25 campaign. What initially appeared to be a minor issue followed a 19th-minute collision with Marc Guéhi, but the injury proved far more complicated than first expected.

Then head coach Ange Postecoglou described the problem the following day as looking like “a knock”, yet Kulusevski ultimately required surgery and encountered several delays during his rehabilitation. He was on crutches when Tottenham beat Manchester United in the Europa League final later that month.

Long rehabilitation ends with Coventry appearance

Kulusevski has described the operation as surgery on the kneecap cartilage. The prolonged absence also ruled him out of Sweden’s World Cup squad.

His recovery included a knee arthroscopy in March, a procedure he said removed material that should not have been present in the joint. He returned to full Tottenham training on August 31, only to suffer a further minor setback during September.

Monday’s short appearance against Coventry therefore marked the first competitive step back for a player who had become one of Spurs’ leading figures after joining from Juventus on an initial loan in 2022.

Welcome option amid further injury concerns

Kulusevski’s availability gives Roberto De Zerbi an important addition at a time when Tottenham’s injury list has lengthened again. Sávio and Lucas Bergvall have both been added to the group expected to miss the coming weeks.

The Swede is among a number of Tottenham players to have suffered significant injuries over the past year, with knee issues featuring prominently in that run of absences.

His rehabilitation also unfolded through a turbulent period at the club. Tottenham dismissed Postecoglou, Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor while Kulusevski was sidelined, with the side recording back-to-back 17th-place Premier League finishes.

For now, the Coventry victory offers a positive return point for Kulusevski, whose fitness could provide De Zerbi with a valuable option as Tottenham manage another demanding spell without several first-team players.