Dejan Kulusevski is nearing a return to action after a lengthy injury absence.
The Athletic reported Saturday that Kulusevski is expected to be included in Tottenham Hotspur's matchday squad for its game against Coventry City, which would mark his first appearance in 526 days.
Kulusevski suffered a serious right kneecap injury during a match against Crystal Palace in May last year.
The injury proved more serious than initially expected. He was originally expected to return around December and posted videos of his individual training and rehabilitation as he worked toward a comeback.
However, repeated setbacks delayed his return, and he eventually underwent arthroscopic surgery, ruling him out for the entire previous season.
The long absence also affected his international career. Kulusevski was left out of Sweden's final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and remained unavailable for Tottenham at the start of this season as he continued his rehabilitation.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi said ahead of the Coventry match that Kulusevski had finally been cleared to play.
"Kulusevski will start on the bench," De Zerbi said. "The medical staff have finally given him clearance to play."
"It is probably the best news we've had since the Everton match," he added. "He has been through a lot. When I told him yesterday that he would be in the squad, he had a big smile on his face."
Kulusevski returns with Tottenham struggling early in the season.
The club has already been eliminated in the Carabao Cup round of 32 and remains winless in the Premier League, with three draws and three losses leaving it at the bottom of the table.
Kulusevski was one of Tottenham's main creative players on the wing before his injury, and his return could provide the team with an additional attacking option as it looks to improve its form.
(This article was produced with the assistance of AI. — Ed.)