There was private optimism last October that Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan Kulusevski could return by the end of 2025 | OneFootball

There was private optimism last October that Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dejan Kulusevski could be back from injury by the end of 2025, according to The Athletic.

However, it has taken more time than anyone at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club expected last May for him to be ready given the complexity of the injury.

Kulusevski injured his right patella with two league games left in 2024-25, with a collision with Marc Guehi during a league game against Crystal Palace proving catastrophic.

The Sweden international had set specific targets he was focusing on as he eyed a swift return for Tottenham. However, they were repeatedly pushed back.

Kulusevski is now taking things one day at a time, working hard every day to ensure he is ready to hit the ground running once he is fully fit.

He has yet to play for manager Thomas Frank, who could use his creativity as the season starts to take shape.

It is unclear whether the 25-year-old will return for Tottenham before the end of the season, but Sweden are hoping to have him available for their World Cup qualification play-offs next month.

They play Ukraine on March 26, and will face either Poland or Albania on March 31 if they win.

Kulusevski has not yet been ruled out, and Spurs will be praying he returns very soon as they look to secure European football for next season.

They are just three places and nine points above the relegation zone, but only ten points separate them from sixth-place Liverpool after 24 games.