It’s been a very long time since Tottenham fans saw Dejan Kulusevski in action, and the absence has been quite the ordeal for the Swedish star.
After playing a starring role for Spurs over the past couple of seasons, it’s been a hammer blow for the Lilywhites to have been without Kulusevski since May of last year.
What was first thought to be a minor knock has developed into something far more serious and long-lasting. It’s now known that Kulusevski injured his patella, a rare and complicated issue, and his return date is still unknown.
The fact that Kulusevski wasn’t drafted into Tottenham’s Champions League squad does not bode well for his timeline of recovery. And now, we know exactly how the player himself feels about all of this.
Tottenham absence has been tough for Dejan Kulusevski
An in-depth report from The Athletic sheds plenty of light on the Dejan Kulusevski situation, in particular just how much of an impact this absence has had on his mental state.
It’s said this is Kulusevski’s first long-term injury in his career, and it’s been an extremely tough time for him dealing with this ongoing issue.
With Kulusevski being so “obsessed” with football, it’s been particularly hard for him to accept the fact he has been unable to do what he loves for the past nine months.
Kulusevski was initially pinpointing dates for his big return, but that timeline has been pushed back time and time again. In October, he had hoped to get back on the pitch by the end of 2025. That didn’t happen, and the “complexity” of Kulusevski’s injury has taken everyone by surprise.
What Kulusevski has done differently during recovery
According to Tom Barclay, Kulusevski is still hopeful of regaining fitness and playing some part of this season. However, as per Barclay and the report from The Athletic, his priorities have changed somewhat.
It’s now believed Kulusevski is no longer putting pressure on himself to return by a certain date. He doesn’t want to leave himself, or the fans, disappointed anymore and is instead firmly focused on his “mindset” while he’s out of action.
Kulusevski is now “taking one day at a time” and focusing on working hard, keeping the “intensity” levels of his recovery regime as high as possible. All of this is geared towards coming back in “peak physical condition” when the time finally comes.
Apparently, the Swedish winger is determined not to do things by half measures. He doesn’t want to return and be off the pace at all.
Sadly, there is no definitive answer as to when Kulusevski will return, largely due to the unusual nature of his injury. While there is a degree of “external pressure” to get the influential player back on the pitch, Kulusevski himself is ignoring the noise and focusing on his work behind the scenes.