MusaDejan Kulusevski is set to return to Tottenham Hotspur’s matchday squad for the first time in 526 days when Spurs host Coventry City on Monday night. However, the north London club will be without Sávio and Lucas Bergvall due to injury concerns.
Tottenham have spent most of the week at a warm-weather training camp in Marbella as Roberto De Zerbi continues his efforts to improve the team’s performances. Unfortunately, Sávio picked up a muscular problem on Tuesday, while Bergvall is expected to spend approximately two weeks on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury during the draw against Manchester United.
The absence of the two players, combined with Kulusevski’s encouraging progress in his recovery, has paved the way for the Swedish international to return to the matchday squad after a lengthy spell out with a serious knee injury.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, De Zerbi confirmed that the 26-year-old would be available for selection against Coventry.
“Yes, Kulusevski will be on the bench. We had a meeting with the medical staff, and they gave the OK. It’s great news. I think it’s one of the best pieces of news since the Everton game last season because Deki suffered too much. He deserves to experience that emotion on the pitch,” the Tottenham manager said.
However, De Zerbi also confirmed that Sávio would be unavailable for several weeks after picking up his injury before the squad travelled to Marbella.
“Unfortunately, Sávio felt a muscular problem on Tuesday before we left for Marbella. We have lost him for some weeks,” he explained.
The Italian also provided an update on Bergvall, revealing that the midfielder reported his problem to the club’s medical team the day after the Manchester United game.
“And Lucas Bergvall, because he had a problem at the beginning of the game in Manchester. The day after Manchester United, on Sunday, he came to the training ground to see our medical staff. I think he will be out for two weeks,” De Zerbi added.
There was more encouraging news regarding Pedro Porro, with the Tottenham boss suggesting that the right-back could return in time for next Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.
Nevertheless, Spurs will be without seven players for Monday’s encounter with Coventry, while Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended following his red card against Manchester United.
Sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table, Tottenham desperately need a victory to end their disappointing six-match winless start to the campaign. However, De Zerbi has warned his players against underestimating a Coventry side that impressed in the Championship last season.
“Coventry are a good team. They played a fantastic Championship last season,” the Spurs manager said.
“But we are Tottenham. We have to remain humble and understand what we want to achieve. We want to show that we are good enough to win games, especially when we deserve to win them.”
Kulusevski’s potential return could prove particularly significant as Tottenham attempt to turn their season around. The playmaker has endured an incredibly frustrating period after suffering a patella injury that required a second procedure in March to address the persistent problem.
The injury forced him to miss Tottenham’s Europa League triumph in 2025, the entirety of last season and the summer’s World Cup, making his return to the matchday squad a major milestone.
De Zerbi was visibly pleased to reveal how the Swedish international reacted when he informed him of the positive news on Saturday.
“I told him that I had spoken with the medical staff and they had given me the OK, and he smiled so widely,” the Italian explained.
“We are happy. We are very, very happy. This is not about football. I’m not speaking about football. Of course, he is a special player, but we are talking about something different. He suffered a lot, and his reaction was great.”
Meanwhile, Richarlison remains outside Tottenham’s first-team plans after being omitted from the club’s 25-man Premier League squad following a turbulent summer transfer window.
The Brazilian forward, however, featured for the Under-21s on Tuesday and found the net during their Jersey Mike’s Trophy encounter against Cheltenham Town.
The situation surrounding the 29-year-old has become increasingly tense, particularly after he appeared to support criticism of De Zerbi on social media.
On Saturday, Richarlison shared the words “you are right” on his Instagram story alongside a post in which former Everton striker Duncan Ferguson criticised the Tottenham manager’s treatment of the Brazilian.
Despite the growing controversy, De Zerbi made it clear that he no longer considers Richarlison’s situation to be his responsibility.
“It’s not my problem any more. You have to ask Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange. It’s not my problem,” the Spurs boss insisted.
With Kulusevski closing in on a long-awaited return but several other players unavailable, Tottenham now face a crucial opportunity to get their Premier League campaign back on track against Coventry.
Musa
