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Sweden make Dejan Kulusevski call-up decision after Tottenham injury return
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- Sweden make Dejan Kulusevski call-up decision after Tottenham injury return
Comeback: Dejan Kulusevski (Getty)
Dejan Kulusevski has been called up by Sweden ahead of the November international break as the Tottenham playmaker continues his recovery from a long-term kneecap injury.
Kulusevski has not played for Sweden since suffering the injury while playing for Spurs in May 2025.
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The 26-year-old has faced a gruelling period on the sidelines, which included two separate surgeries to correct the issue, but has begun to be slowly reintroduced by Spurs over the last month.
Kulusevski has featured off the bench in each of Spurs' last three games, playing a combined 17 minutes during wins against Coventry, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
Spurs will continue to be cautious with the former Juventus man, but his inclusion in Graham Potter's Sweden squad for the upcoming international break represents 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.
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Potter, though, has been eager to get him back involved, and while he accepted they would need to remain patient, he had initially hoped to call him up during the last international break in September.
Sweden and Spurs are in constant conversation about how best to manage Kulusevski's recovery, but Potter has admitted that the final decision ultimately lies 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."
