Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Dejan Kulusevski will return to the Spurs squad for the match against Coventry City on Monday, October 19, after more than 500 days on the sidelines.
The Swedish winger has not made a competitive appearance since sustaining a knee injury in May 2025. That absence meant he missed Spurs' Europa League triumph, all of last season, and the FIFA World Cup 2026.
"Kulusevski (is) on the bench. We had a meeting with the medical staff. They gave the OK and it's great news," De Zerbi told reporters on Sunday. "Deki, he suffered too much," he added. "He deserves to feel emotion on the pitch."
De Zerbi said he personally relayed the medical clearance to the player, describing Kulusevski's reaction as a broad smile. The manager added, "And we are happy. We are very, very happy. It's not football. I'm not speaking about football. OK, he's a special player, but we are speaking about different things. He suffered a lot and his reaction was great."
Spurs currently sit bottom of the Premier League, winless in their first six outings.
