Dejan Kulusevski could be included in a Tottenham matchday squad for the first time in nearly 18 months when Coventry visit on Monday night.
Kulusevski has been out of action since May 2025 with a complicated kneecap injury that required two surgeries and more than 500 days on the sidelines.
The Swedish playmaker is, though, edging closer to a return to action and was part of the travelling squad as Spurs rescued a late 1-1 draw away to Manchester United last weekend.
While not part of the matchday squad at Old Trafford, Kulusevski has continued to train with the rest of the first team since then and travelled to Marbella for the club’s warm-weather training camp this week.
With an extended break between games, Monday’s clash against Coventry looks like a good opportunity to reintegrate Kulusevski and boost morale as Spurs search for their first Premier League win of the season.
Kulusevski may not be ready to make a substantial impact on the pitch, but one player head coach Roberto De Zerbi will hope he can rely on from the start is right-back and vice-captain Pedro Porro.
Porro has been out for nearly a month with a hamstring injury suffered during Spurs’ 3-2 defeat by Aston Villa.
The World Cup winner travelled to Spain over the international break to see a specialist to help his recovery, but was not included in the matchday squad against United, though he did travel to Old Trafford alongside Kulusevski.
Spurs will definitely be without midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur after he was sent off for headbutting United defender Luke Shaw.
De Zerbi raised eyebrows by praising Bentancur for showing character, with the Uruguayan’s absence meaning that more changes are now needed in midfield.
The major selection decision De Zerbi will be weighing up is whether to hand James Maddison his first Premier League start since April 2025.
The England midfielder has been in and out of the side this season after suffering a shoulder fracture during Spurs’ 3-0 defeat by Brentford on the opening weekend.
Maddison made a positive impression off the bench against United, and he could now be trusted from the start against Coventry, with Tottenham in need of creative inspiration.