Dejan Kulusevski takes part in 11-a-side training match at Hotspur Way

Tottenham Hotspur have received a huge boost after Dejan Kulusevski moved closer to a long-awaited comeback by playing in an 11-a-side training match. The Sweden international has not featured for club or country since May 2025, but his return to match-like action offers Roberto De Zerbi a timely lift before the trip to face Manchester United on Saturday evening.

  • Player: Dejan Kulusevski
  • Injury: Complicated kneecap problem requiring two surgeries over 10 months
  • Time out: 17 months, over 500 days, no club or country action since May 2025
  • Latest step: Featured in an 11-a-side match at Hotspur Way during the international break
  • Next fixture: Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday evening
  • What’s at stake: Tottenham are bottom of the Premier League with two points from five games

Injury and availability

Dejan Kulusevski is working towards his first competitive appearance under Roberto De Zerbi. No return date has been set, and Tottenham will not force the issue.

Micky van de Ven has a finger issue. Jan Paul van Hecke is dealing with a foot problem. Pedro Porro pulled out of the Spain squad because of the hamstring injury he suffered in the 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa.

Mykhailo Mudryk remains out with an ankle problem. Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert continue their recoveries from anterior cruciate ligament injuries suffered last season.

Kulusevski’s comeback reaches decisive stage

During the extended international break, Kulusevski increased his workload again. In the second week of that window he featured in an internal match, lining up for a side made up of first-team players against a mixed group from Tottenham’s Under-21s and Under-18s. The exact number of minutes is unclear, and so is his influence on the game. That part is secondary. The important detail is simpler: he got through match-like action.

That is the checkpoint that matters when a player is trying to rebuild rhythm, confidence and tolerance in the body. He had already returned to first-team training once, only for that to be interrupted by a setback. After 17 months out, more than 500 days on the sidelines, he has now cleared a significant hurdle.

Tottenham’s cautious approach after injury nightmare

Tottenham are being cautious because they have learned the hard way. Their previous two seasons were wrecked by injury problems, and the damage was obvious in the table. Back-to-back 17th-place finishes and a relegation fight that went to the final day have forced a rethink.

The medical and performance structure has changed, with Dan Lewindon leading a revamped department. The approach now is clear: fewer gambles, tighter management. That is why Kulusevski’s return will be carefully managed.

Why Kulusevski’s return matters for De Zerbi

Roberto De Zerbi has inherited a squad short on confidence and even shorter on options in wide areas. Dejan Kulusevski offers a blend of physicality and creativity that few in the current Tottenham squad can replicate. His ability to carry the ball through central and wide channels would give De Zerbi a different attacking dimension, especially with Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert still recovering from ACL injuries.

However, Tottenham cannot afford to rush him. The club’s recent history with injuries has been damaging, and the presence of Dan Lewindon at the head of a revamped medical department signals a more measured approach. The priority will be to build Kulusevski’s minutes in training and Under-21 fixtures before giving him competitive action.

Talking points

  • Should Tottenham risk Kulusevski against Manchester United, or wait until he has more training minutes behind him?
  • With Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke carrying issues, is De Zerbi’s squad too thin to cope?
  • Can Kulusevski’s return spark a turnaround for a side with two points from five games?
  • Is Tottenham’s cautious medical approach a sign of progress after two seasons of injury chaos?

What happens next

Tottenham travel to Old Trafford on Saturday evening to face Michael Carrick’s Manchester United, who have won only one of their first five league matches. Kulusevski’s return is not a fix, but it is a rare positive in a season already asking hard questions. Spurs remain bottom of the Premier League with two points and two goals from five games.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dejan Kulusevski fit to play for Tottenham against Manchester United?

He is not yet confirmed fit. He took part in an 11-a-side training match, but Tottenham will not rush him and no return date has been set.

How long has Dejan Kulusevski been out injured?

Kulusevski has not featured for club or country since May 2025, meaning over 500 days on the sidelines.

Which Tottenham players are injured for the Manchester United game?

Micky van de Ven (finger), Jan Paul van Hecke (foot), Pedro Porro (hamstring), Mykhailo Mudryk (ankle), Xavi Simons (ACL) and Wilson Odobert (ACL).

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