It feels like a long time ago when Dejan Kulusevski was sidelined due to a serious knee injury – specifically a patella cartilage issue – sustained in a match against Crystal Palace, which required surgery. It was. It was back in May of last year. He has not played at all this season for Spurs.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank provided a pessimistic outlook in recent press conferences, stating he doesn’t know if Kulusevski will play again this season. He noted Kulusevski has another medical appointment at the end of the week for further assessment, but emphasized that his exclusion from the Champions League squad is a sign that a return is “not tomorrow.”
Reports suggest the recovery has been more prolonged and complicated than initially hoped. Swedish media indicate he’s expected to miss Sweden’s World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final against Ukraine on March 26, 2026, with anything earlier requiring something “miraculous.” This points to a potential earliest return in April 2026 at the soonest, though even that remains uncertain. Sposrtbladet say that:
If something miraculous happens or a knee expert overcomes the problem, he could possibly be selected, but not be close to starting already on March 26.
The publication went on to add that it has already been clear that Lucas Bergvall’s injury is also worse than feared, and Fotbollskanalen wrote a few weeks ago that Bergvall will miss Sweden’s playoff for the World Cup.
Other absentees include:
Destiny Udogie (Left-back): Hamstring injury (recent, from the Man United game) — ruled out for 4–5 weeks, potentially returning around mid-April 2026.
Pedro Porro (Right-back): Hamstring injury — out for about four weeks, targeting late February or early March return.
Richarlison (Forward): Hamstring — expected back late February 2026.
Mohammed Kudus (Winger): Hamstring since early January — return around April 2026.
Rodrigo Bentancur (Midfield): Hamstring surgery in January — out until early April 2026.
Ben Davies (Defender): Ankle surgery — no firm return date.
Lucas Bergvall (Midfield): Ankle sprain — no firm return date.
Kevin Danso (Defender): Toe/foot ligament issue — still weeks away, per manager Thomas Frank.
James Maddison (Attacking Midfield): Cruciate ligament (ACL) tear since August 2025 — long-term, expected return around June 2026.
All of which makes it increasingly strange that ENIC spent so little this January.