Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski has revealed what Graham Potter has told him about the minutes he can expect to play for Sweden in their upcoming Nations League fixtures.
Given how passionate the Tottenham man is about representing his country, it was a huge moment for Kulusevski when he finally managed to get back into the Sweden squad after two years.
The 26-year-old has been included in the setup for the country’s upcoming Nations League clashes against Bosnia and Poland after playing 42 minutes for Tottenham across their last four matches.
The attacking midfielder is yet to start a game for the Lilywhites since his return, with the club slowly building up his workload after he spent more than 500 days out of action.
Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski expects to play a total of 60 minutes
There would be some concerns among Spurs fans about whether the former Juventus man’s body can handle the potential workload during the international break.
However, Graham Potter has clarified that Sweden are in close contact with Tottenham regarding Kulusevski, hinting that the club will have a say in how many minutes he plays.
The Sweden boss said on Monday: “We are of course in contact with Tottenham and it is logical that we work closely with them. They have worked with Dejan for so long to get him back to the level he is at now.
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“Therefore, it is reasonable that we have a close dialogue. We have a pretty good idea of how we can use him. But the most important thing for us is that he is here.”
The Spurs star has now shared that he has been told he can expect to play around half an hour in each of Sweden’s two upcoming fixtures.
When asked how many minutes he expects to play on his return to the Sweden camp, Dejan Kulusevski told Fotbollskanalen: “I’ll get to play some minutes in both games. Around 30 minutes in each. That’s what’s been said.
“It’s better than zero, so I’m happy. I actually can play 90 minutes in both matches. But that’s what I can do. I’m not the one who decides.”
Kulusevski admits he prefers playing centrally
While the Swede has transitioned from a winger into a number 10 under Ange Postecoglou prior to his knee injury, he has been used exclusively on the right wing by Roberto De Zerbi so far.
As we await to see Potter’s usage of him, Kulusevski has now confessed that he feels most comfortable centrally.
On his return to the national team, the Tottenham man added: “It’s a dream. It’s what I’ve worked hard for. I’m just happy, and I’m a competitive person. I want to get out there, compete and show who I am.”
“I feel most comfortable as a number ten. But it doesn’t matter. Sometimes the coach puts me on the wing and then I have to adapt.”