Tottenham expert reveals how long Dejan Kulusevski needs to return to best after 'kick in the face'

Dejan Kulusevski is set for a difficult path to get back to his best at Tottenham Hotspur after such a long time out injured.

That is according to former senior Tottenham scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.

The 26-year-old may be set to finally return to Roberto De Zerbi's squad after the international break, having spent around 16 months out injured.

The knee injury that Kulusevski suffered was initially expected to just keep him out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, but surgery and further complications have made it incredibly hard to return from.

The Sweden international scored 10 goals and provided 11 assists across all competitions in the season he was injured in, and has been a massive loss for Tottenham.

His return will be handled with extreme care, with fans keen to find out just how ready Kulusevski is to make an impact this season.

Dejan Kulusevski is 'a player Spurs will need'

It is hard to predict just how Kulusevski will return for Tottenham. The Swede will almost certainly have the fear of a repeat injury in his mind.

That mental block has seriously affected careers before and it will again, but it is Tottenham's job to attempt to prepare him as well as they can.

"This is the thing with Kulusevski because he's been a good player for Tottenham, and he gives Spurs that width when he plays," King told Football Insider.

"He attacks in wide positions, and he attacks well. He's been missed by Sweden as well as Tottenham, that's for sure. I thought he was a very good buy.

"He didn't cost masses of money, and he's proved how he developed from somebody who hardly anybody had heard of, apart from people who work in Scandinavia, to come in and play like he did and produce what he did.

"There again, football has a terrible way of kicking you in the face, and the last thing he wanted at that moment in his career was the kind of injury he's got.

"So it'll be interesting to see when he is fully fit, what's going to be happening here with his play. It's going to take him a month at least to get himself back in to any kind of standard, but he's a player that Spurs will need. That's for sure."

What's the latest on Kulusevski?

Kulusevski will reportedly be ready for Tottenham's trip to Manchester United after the international break, but it remains unclear whether De Zerbi will throw him into such a game.

"We have to manage Deki in the best way we can, with the medical staff, physical staff," the Italian said earlier this month.

"But it's a great thing for us because he's a good player, he's a good guy. He deserves to play again. We have to work day by day.

"Also, for Deki, it's important the international break, because when he will be at the top of condition and pass over the injury, I think it's a great signing, a new signing for us, another new signing."