Dejan Kulusevski will be on the bench for Tottenham's Premier League meeting with Coventry on Monday night. The Swedish playmaker has been out of action since May 2025 with a complicated kneecap injury that required two surgeries and more than 500 days on the sidelines.
Kulusevski is edging closer to a return and was part of the travelling squad as Spurs rescued a late 1-1 draw away to Manchester United last weekend. He has continued to train with the first team since then and travelled to Marbella for the club's warm-weather training camp this week.
De Zerbi confirms Kulusevski return
With an extended break between games, Monday's clash against Coventry looks like a good opportunity to reintegrate Kulusevski and boost morale as Spurs search for their first Premier League win of the season.
“Yes, Kulusevski on the bench,” Roberto De Zerbi revealed in the pre-match press conference. “We had a meeting with the medical staff, they gave the okay and it's great news.”
Porro and Bentancur absent
While Kulusevski could make a substantial impact on the pitch, De Zerbi has confirmed the game comes too soon for vice-captain Pedro Porro. Porro has been out for nearly a month with a hamstring injury suffered during Spurs' 3-2 defeat by Aston Villa and should be ready for the Chelsea game next weekend.
Spurs will definitely be without midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur after he was sent off for headbutting United defender Luke Shaw, while Savio and Lucas Bergvall have been ruled out through injury. De Zerbi praised Bentancur for showing character, with the Uruguayan's absence meaning that more changes are now needed in midfield.
Maddison in contention
The major selection decision De Zerbi will be weighing up is whether to hand James Maddison his first Premier League start since April 2025. The England midfielder has been in and out of the side this season after suffering a shoulder fracture during Spurs' 3-0 defeat by Brentford on the opening weekend.
Maddison made a positive impression off the bench against United, and he could now be trusted from the start against Coventry, with Tottenham in need of creative inspiration. Mykhailo Mudryk is not available as he continues his recovery from an ankle ligament injury, while Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons remain long-term absentees.
Predicted Tottenham XI vs Coventry (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Udogie; Fernandes, Tonali; Maddison, Kudus, Marmoush; Solanke
Injured: Simons, Odobert, Mudryk, Porro, Savio, Bergvall
Doubts: Kulusevski
Suspended: Bentancur
Time and date: 8pm BST on Monday October 19, 2026
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
How to watch: Sky Sports
