Dejan Kulusevski has been named in Sweden's squad for the November international break as the Tottenham playmaker continues his recovery from a long-term kneecap injury.
Kulusevski has not featured for his country since sustaining the injury while playing for Spurs in May 2025. The 26-year-old has spent a lengthy period on the sidelines, which included two separate surgeries to correct the issue, but has begun to be gradually reintroduced by Tottenham over the past month.
Return to action for Spurs
Kulusevski has appeared as a substitute in each of Spurs' last three matches, playing a combined 17 minutes during wins against Coventry, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Tottenham are expected to remain cautious with the former Juventus player, but his inclusion in Graham Potter's Sweden squad for the upcoming international break marks another step forward.
Kulusevski missed out on selection for the World Cup over the summer, which he described as one of the hardest parts of an "impossible" journey back to fitness.
Coordination between club and country
Potter has been keen to bring him back into the fold, and while he acknowledged the need for patience, he had initially hoped to call him up during the September international break. Sweden and Spurs are in regular contact about how best to manage Kulusevski's recovery, though Potter has admitted that the final decision rests with the north London club.
"He is progressing step by step. First, he needs to return to playing with Tottenham, and they are the ones who have the final say. They see him every day, and they are the most capable of making the decision," Potter said ahead of the September international break. "When he is not playing with his club, it is difficult for us to call him up even if we want to. He is a top-class player, and we respect his situation. He is not far off, but when you have been absent for a long period, it is important to be cautious in the final stage of rehabilitation."
