Kulusevski ends 500-day injury absence as Spurs host Coventry with seven players out

Dejan Kulusevski is set to return to Tottenham’s matchday squad for the first time in more than 500 days when Spurs host Coventry City on Monday night, manager Roberto De Zerbi confirmed at a press conference on Saturday. The Swedish playmaker has been sidelined since the end of the 2024-25 season with a serious patella injury that required a second surgical procedure in March.

De Zerbi confirmed Kulusevski would be named among the substitutes, describing the news in emotional terms. “Yes, Kulusevski on the bench. We had a meeting with the medical staff. They gave the OK and it’s great news. I think it’s one of the best news after the Everton game last season because Deki he suffered too much. He deserves to feel emotion on the pitch,” the head coach said.

De Zerbi also revealed how he broke the news to the 26-year-old directly. “I said to him, ‘I spoke with the medical staff and they gave me the OK’ and he smiled like this (wide). And we are happy. We are very, very happy. It’s not football. I’m not speaking about football.”

Kulusevski’s return comes at a difficult moment for the club. Spurs sit bottom of the Premier League table after a six-match winless start to the new campaign, and De Zerbi faces a mounting injury list for the Coventry fixture. Winger Savio reported a muscular problem on Tuesday before the squad departed for a warm-weather training camp in Marbella and will be absent for several weeks. Lucas Bergvall, meanwhile, picked up a knee issue during the recent match at Manchester United and is expected to be sidelined for around two weeks.

With Rodrigo Bentancur also suspended, Spurs will be without seven players in total against Coventry. De Zerbi did offer a positive update on right-back Pedro Porro, who could be available for the trip to Chelsea the following Saturday.

Kulusevski missed Tottenham’s Europa League triumph in 2025, the entirety of last season, and this summer’s World Cup with Sweden during his lengthy spell on the sidelines. His return to the squad, even from the bench, represents a significant boost for a side desperately searching for its first league win of the season.

De Zerbi was measured in his assessment of Monday’s opponents. “Coventry is a good team. They played a fantastic Championship last season. But we are Tottenham, keeping humility, keeping what you want, but we want to show to be good enough to win the games, especially if we deserve to win the games.”