Tottenham given Dejan Kulusevski injury boost before Aston Villa clash as recovery plan clear

Dejan Kulusevski appears to have taken another promising step forward on the road to recovery

Dejan Kulusevski has returned to first-team training ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's clash against Aston Villa. Although it's unlikely the 26-year-old midfielder will feature on Saturday afternoon, he appears to have taken another step forward on the road to recovery.

Kulusevski suffered a complicated knee injury during the Lilywhites' defeat to Crystal Palace back in May 2025. The Sweden international, who hasn't been called up by Graham Potter ahead of the upcoming break, required surgery, and he's yet to return to the pitch.

After a couple of setbacks and a clean-up procedure, Kulusevski stepped up preparations in the summer, working with a coach, away from the first team, on the grass at Hotspur Way. The Swede has since been integrated into Roberto De Zerbi's side on the training pitch.

On Friday morning, Kulusevski marked the occasion with a celebratory post on his Instagram story. He proudly uploaded an action shot of himself and Micky van de Ven during what appears to be a warm-up drill.

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De Zerbi provided an update on the former Juventus man on Friday, stating: "We have to manage Deki in the best way we can, but this is a great thing for us because he is a good player and a good guy. He deserves to play again and we have to work day by day and also for Deki it is important the national break because when he is at top condition and over the injury, he will be like another new signing."

Spekaing last month, the Spurs boss admitted: "He's working, he's working not with the group, but with the individual coach.

"I'm observing him a lot, because first of all, he suffers too much, and as a human situation, it's been tough for him, and every one of us we are close with him for this period. Then he's a different player, he's a special player, if he's fit and he's available, he's a different player like Xavi Simons."

The Lilywhites boss has been working hard on the training pitches at Hotspur Way as he looks to win his first game of the new Premier League season.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday night, when Spurs lost to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup third round, De Zerbi outlined what his side needs to do to finally get over the line. The Italian said: "We have to be stronger.

"I think last season was a school. I think it has to be a school for everyone. Now we are unlucky, because it's clear we have to improve many, many things."

De Zerbi continued: "We are suffering because the results are our life, no? If we lose, we are sorry, we are sad, we are disappointed, we are frustrated. It's tough, no? But it's the first moment, the first part of this new project.

"I think when we make the click... but the click is not mentality, because today we showed the right mentality, the right behaviour and we played until the end of the game. I think we are going to win many games and score many goals."

De Zerbi later added: "I believe in my players, I have a big opinion of them, and when we arrive to finally click to win a game, we will enjoy it with these players because the look of the players is incredible.

"It is a tough moment but we have to be stronger."