Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dejan Kulusevski has insisted he’s 100% sure he’ll be back soon after an extended injury break.
The 25-year-old was interviewed by Viaplay after Sweden qualified for the World Cup this week. Goteborgs Posten report his comments today.
Long-term injury for Tottenham player
The Tottenham star is currently recovering from a long-term right-patella (kneecap) injury and is unlikely to feature for Spurs again this season. He’s been sidelined for well over a year after undergoing surgery last year.
He recently underwent another minor surgical procedure in March to ‘clean up’ the knee’. That led to concerns as he was seen with a visible lip during a recent trip to Sweden’s training camp.
Kulusevski later cleared up any concerns about that on Instagram, insisting that it was a result of the procedure rather than a new setback.
He’s instead remaining optimistic that he can make the World Cup in the summer, insisting he’d bet on himself.
“There are two or three months left, and I haven’t played in a year. I know what the chances are. But if there is a person on this planet who can do it, I would bet on myself,” he said.
There’s been genuine worry that he won’t be available for the tournament this summer. Sweden had a torrid time in qualifying but managed to get through via the play-offs this week.
Tottenham’s Kulusevski is sure he’ll be able to join his compatriots: “100 percent I will be healthy for the World Cup.”
Sweden not Tottenham
The focus at this point, appears to be on getting himself fit for Sweden and not Tottenham. That, it seems, is the more realistic target for now.
Igor Tudor and his team were certainly playing it cautious with the midfielder and Roberto de Zerbi will surely do the same. After over a year out, there is no other option for Spurs at this point.
They will be concerned about Dejan Kulusevski overdoing it just to reach the World Cup this summer, where he would surely only play a back up role for Graham Potter’s side anyway.
The midfielder, though, is backing himself. And after such a long lay-off, perhaps a positive approach is the best one for everyone anyway.
Fingers crossed, De Zerni will then be able to count on him for the start of next season.