Dejan Kulusevski could make his first appearance for Sweden in two years following an extended spell on the sidelines.
Graham Potter has confirmed that the Swedish Football Association will be in 'close dialogue' with Tottenham Hotspur's medical staff during the international break to carefully manage Dejan Kulusevski's workload.
The former Chelsea boss has called up the 26-year-old midfielder to the national team for the first time since taking the reins in October 2025. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Potter paid tribute to Kulusevski, describing him as an important member of the squad.
"It was of course a difficult time," said the Sweden head coach, as quoted by Sportbladet. "But when I say it was tough, it was of course nowhere near how tough it was for him himself.
"Above all, I want to pay tribute to him for how he has gotten through the dark periods because I’m pretty sure there have been those. Everyone knows how important he is to us, of course. We have had to try to do what we can from a distance to support him and be there."
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Potter claimed the Swedish Football Association have a 'pretty good idea' of how much they will be able to use Kulusevski over the international break. This month, they will wrap up the Nations League group stage with clashes against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Poland.
"We are of course in contact with Tottenham, and it is logical that we work closely with them," said the Sweden boss. "They have worked with Dejan for so long to get him back to the level he is at now.
"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."
Kulusevski suffered a complicated knee problem during the Lilywhites' defeat to Crystal Palace back in May 2025, ruling him out for 526 days. The Swede eventually returned to training at Hotspur Way in the summer of 2026, working closely with a coach away from the first team.
At the start of September, Kulusevski was reintegrated into Roberto De Zerbi's side, only to encounter a 'small problem'. The knock slightly extended his spell on the sidelines, subsequently making him unavailable for selection for the start of the UEFA Nations League in October.
Kulusevski finally made his long-awaited return to action in the 3-1 win over Coventry City, coming off the bench in the final minutes. He has since featured three more times for Tottenham in the Premier League, playing a further 39 minutes.
Despite having yet to start a game for the Lilywhites this season, Kulusevski managed to earn a place in the latest Sweden squad. He will hope to make his first appearance on the international stage since November 2024.
Nearly two years ago to the day, Kulusevski led his country to a 6-0 win over Azerbaijan. He had started each of the last nine games for Sweden, too, often wearing the captain's armband.