Dejan Kulusevski has received a major boost after being included in Sweden’s squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Poland.
The 26-year-old Tottenham midfielder has endured a frustrating period on the sidelines since suffering a serious patella injury in May 2025, with his recovery proving far more difficult than initially expected.
However, after spending months working towards his comeback, Kulusevski finally returned to action as a substitute during Tottenham’s victory over Coventry City last month. He has since made further substitute appearances in the wins against Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
Although Spurs are carefully managing his minutes as he gradually rebuilds his fitness, his recent progress has convinced Sweden head coach Graham Potter to include him in his latest squad.
It remains uncertain whether Kulusevski will feature during the international break, but Potter is delighted to see the midfielder back playing after his lengthy injury layoff forced him to miss last summer’s World Cup.
Speaking after announcing his squad, Potter praised the Tottenham star’s determination and resilience.
He said Kulusevski had been through an incredibly difficult period, adding that everyone was impressed by the way he continued fighting, stayed mentally strong and overcame the challenges. Potter also described his attitude throughout rehabilitation as exemplary, saying he had made both himself and his family proud.
Potter had previously suggested during September’s international break that Kulusevski was getting closer to a Sweden return. However, he insisted that the midfielder first needed to regain match fitness with Tottenham before an international recall could happen.
The Sweden boss explained that Spurs were best placed to assess his condition because they work with him daily. He also stressed the importance of avoiding unnecessary risks during the final stages of his rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, Kulusevski recently opened up about the emotional battle behind his return after spending 526 days recovering from his knee injury.
The midfielder revealed that his condition had become so frustrating that he struggled to walk up and down stairs normally, despite being desperate to return to football.
He admitted that there were moments when he questioned what his future would look like if his recovery failed.
However, a visit to a physiotherapist in Sweden proved to be a turning point. According to Kulusevski, the treatment helped change how his nervous system responded, allowing him to perform exercises that had previously caused him pain.
He recalled telling his wife that things had finally changed and that he believed he could overcome the injury.
Although some discomfort remained, he began to regain control of his leg and gradually returned to football training.
Kulusevski also revealed that Tottenham were impressed by the progress he had made before pre-season. With additional support from the club, he quickly regained strength and went from fears that he might never play again to producing encouraging performances within weeks.
His inclusion in Sweden’s squad is another significant milestone in what has been an incredibly difficult comeback journey.
