Dejan Kulusevski has promised a better version of himself and Tottenham Hotspur after he ended an "impossible" journey with a first appearance in 526 days during Monday's 3-1 win over Coventry City.
Kulusevski was introduced to deafening noise in the 87th minute, putting behind him 17 months of injury hell after what was described as a "knock" in the 2024-25 campaign turned into a potentially career-threatening issue.
Surgery on his right patella in May last year was followed by multiple setbacks, but a second procedure in March finally set the 26-year-old Swedish attacker on the road to recovery before his long-awaited return in Spurs' first Premier League victory of the season.
"Everything feels great. I have been working harder than you can ever imagine," Kulusevski said.
"The journey felt impossible. It was the most difficult it could be, but I had a feeling I was going to come back to play football. I just had to believe and that is what I do.
"No, never (did I lose belief). It seemed impossible. I had to tell my closest ones it might not work out, just a couple of months ago, but in my heart, I always knew it would work out.
"I kept working, 10 hours every day when no-one is watching, so when everything was impossible and everyone gave up, I never gave up because of this that happened today.
"I am so grateful that (fans) miss me play. It means a lot and I am here to show them a better me. And a better me will be a better Spurs so we will be good."
Tottenham had managed only three home league wins during Kulusevski's lengthy absence and narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the 2025-26 campaign.
Spurs have missed the quality and the character of Kulusevski and James Maddison, who marked his first start in 536 days with a goal and man-of-the-match display against Coventry.
Kulusevski missed the club's Europa League triumph, never featured under Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor, and had to sit out Sweden's World Cup campaign, but is now ready to make up for lost time and feels he returns "a little bit smarter".
"It was amazing," he said. "It was more emotional I think this morning. It was a beautiful day and I'm so happy we won.
"I will tell everyone about the journey. It has been an amazing journey even if it is hard sometimes. Hard is beautiful and I am so grateful that I had to experience it.
"Now I am ready to play football. I see myself a little different now. I think I am a different man now. Same guy, same guy that wants to play football, but a little bit smarter.
"I was not (nervous). I was ready to play and it was fun.
"Imagine when everyone gives up on you. You know football for me is like breathing. Imagine you can't breathe for two years?
"But still you have a family, you show up, you do it with a smile, you go with your team-mates, you hype them up and that takes a lot of love, a lot of courage and a lot of belief."
On head coach Roberto De Zerbi, Kulusevski said: "He's amazing. I like him a lot and I can't wait to keep working with him."