Tottenham Hotspur forward Dejan Kulusevski is back with Sweden after a prolonged knee injury, but his return to international football is set to be managed carefully rather than treated as an immediate return to a full 90-minute workload. Comments reported on 10 November suggest a limited role in the forthcoming Nations League fixtures, a significant detail for Spurs supporters monitoring the 26-year-old’s recovery.
What has Graham Potter said about Kulusevski?
Sweden head coach Graham Potter has been in contact with Tottenham as the two sides work out how best to use Kulusevski during the November international window. According to a 10 November report distributed by Poland’s PAP news agency, Potter indicated that around half an hour in each match could be appropriate, while stressing that the precise plan depends on how the games unfold.
That is an important distinction. Kulusevski has been selected for Sweden, but selection is not a promise of a start, a fixed number of minutes or even an appearance in both matches. Potter’s approach is about reintegrating a valuable attacking player without making an already lengthy recovery more difficult.
The Swedish Football Association confirmed his return when announcing the squad on 4 November. It described the winger’s rehabilitation as a difficult journey and welcomed him back after more than 17 months away from international duty. Potter also emphasised the player’s importance on and off the pitch.
Why the comeback matters for Tottenham
Kulusevski’s knee injury dates back to May 2025. His absence stretched well beyond a conventional short-term lay-off and kept him out of Sweden’s World Cup squad earlier this year. The player finally returned to competitive action for Tottenham in October 2026, initially with brief substitute appearances rather than a full match load.
For a Premier League side, the question is not simply whether an injured player can get back on the pitch. It is whether he can repeatedly train, accelerate, change direction and play meaningful minutes without another setback. Those demands are particularly relevant to a creative forward whose game relies on carrying the ball, finding space and working between defensive lines.
International football can help rebuild rhythm and confidence. It also adds travel, different training routines and competitive intensity at a time when a club is trying to increase a player’s workload steadily. That explains why communication between Sweden and Tottenham is central to the decision.
Sweden’s November fixtures and the cautious plan
Sweden are due to face Bosnia and Herzegovina at home on 14 November before visiting Poland on 17 November. The Swedish federation’s squad announcement listed both fixtures and identified Kulusevski as a returning member of Potter’s group.
Reports from the Sweden camp on 10 November suggested the player himself also recognised the need for a gradual return. The PAP account said he considered himself ready for a partial role, roughly a half or less, rather than an immediate full match. These are indications of a working plan, not an official team-sheet announcement.
Potter will have to balance the sporting value of bringing back an established international with the responsibility to protect him. Sweden’s competitive objectives matter, but so does avoiding a recurrence that could undermine months of rehabilitation.
What Spurs fans should watch next
The first meaningful signal will be Sweden’s confirmed team news, followed by the number and intensity of minutes Kulusevski actually plays. A substitute appearance without an adverse reaction would represent another positive step. Equally, a decision to keep him on the bench would not necessarily indicate a fresh injury: careful workload management is consistent with the plan outlined this week.
There is no basis yet to declare that he will start either Nations League fixture or that he has been cleared for uninterrupted full matches. Tottenham’s next club updates and Sweden’s official match reports will provide a firmer picture than speculation about a predetermined return date.
For now, the verified development is encouraging but measured: Kulusevski is back in the national-team environment, and Sweden and Tottenham appear intent on making the next phase of his comeback sustainable.
Sources
Swedish Football Association — November squad announcement, 4 November 2026
PAP via Przegląd Sportowy — Potter’s workload comments, 10 November 2026