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Story summary
Dejan Kulusevski, a Swedish footballer playing for Tottenham Hotspur, has been sidelined since May 2025 due to a complicated kneecap injury requiring two surgeries. His rehabilitation is being carefully managed by Tottenham's medical department, led by performance director Dan Lewindon, who adopted a cautious approach following an injury crisis that nearly resulted in relegation from the Premier League last season.
Kulusevski had suffered a setback during training but has since resumed activities. Despite this progress, former Tottenham midfielder Luther Davis warned fans not to expect immediate returns as Kulusevski is still far from match fitness. Davis suggested that initial appearances would likely be substitutes for about 20 minutes or possibly playing up to an hour if he manages it, emphasizing the mental and physical challenges of such a long absence.
Written for “Dejan Kulusevski Return” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
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anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
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No political leaning scored for article 67801 · logged 2026-10-09
Kulusevski has been sidelined since May 2025 with a complicated kneecap injury that has seen him undergo two separate surgeries.
uncertain
him → sideline → surgeries
His rehabilitation has been managed carefully, with Spurs’ revamped medical department, led by performance director Dan Lewindon, adopting a more cautious approach after an injury crisis derailed their campaign last season as they narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship.
asserted
they → manage → Championship
Kulusevski was pulled out of first-team training last month after suffering a setback in his recovery but has since returned.
asserted
Kulusevski → pull → recovery
A comeback now feels closer than ever, but Waddle has urged supporters not to get ahead of themselves, with the Swedish playmaker still some way short of match fitness.
asserted
playmaker → feel → fitness
"For Dejan Kulusevski, it’s going to be a sub appearance, maybe come on for 20 minutes, or start and play for an hour if he can manage an hour.
asserted
he → go → hour
Mentally as well, you know, it has been a long, long time,” Waddle told Standard Sport, via talkSPORT BET sports betting.
asserted
Waddle → know → betting
"Sometimes it's mind over matter, and it'll take a while to hit the ground running.
asserted
it → take → ground
Listen, it's great getting players back, but because he's been out for such a long time, don't expect anything too early.
asserted
he → listen → anything
"Let him grow back into it and give him game time when needed, even playing for the Under-21s in the reserve league, just to get minutes under his belt, get a bit of rhythm, and, as I said earlier, confidence.
“That's the key.
asserted
That → let → rhythm
If you can get his confidence back, then he'll be a welcome addition to Spurs."
Maddison had hoped to use pre-season to build his way back to full fitness after returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the end of last term.
asserted
Maddison → get → term
Read More
However, Spurs’ pre-season preparations were severely disrupted, leading head coach Roberto De Zerbi to admit ahead of his side’s Premier League opener against Brentford that they were physically under-prepared.
asserted
they → read → Brentford
To add insult to injury, Maddison subsequently suffered a shoulder fracture after coming off the bench against Brentford and has only recently returned.
asserted
Maddison → add → Brentford
"James Maddison knows the club, knows the fans, knows how the club works, and he knows De Zerbi plays on the front foot,” Waddle continued.
asserted
Waddle → know → foot
“I think Maddison's the type of player they need.
asserted
they → think → player
He's a number 10, there's no doubt about that.
asserted
He → be → that
"Whether James Maddison is the player to do that consistently, I’m not sure.
asserted
I → do → that
Unfortunately, the lad's been dogged with injuries for the last 18 months.
asserted
lad → dog → months
“So you feel for him on that, because he's that sort of player Tottenham need at the minute to create things and get on the ball and feed the wingers, giving that bit of difference, bit of quality which they've been lacking on the creative side.”
asserted
they → feel → side
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