Dejan Kulusevski is already at Premier League-topping heights despite 526-day Tottenham absence

Dejan Kulusevski is already proving injury doubters wrong after recently making his Tottenham Hotspur comeback.

The winger made his first appearance after 526 days when he came off the bench to play for three minutes in Spurs' 3-1 win over Coventry City in the Premier League on Monday.

The 26-year-old suffered a serious patella injury that kept him out of the UEFA Europa League final in 2025, as he was sidelined for the entire of last season.

Kulusevski made another step forward after coming off the bench in the Lilywhites' 2-0 victory over Chelsea on Saturday, which was the club's first win at the ground without conceding since December of 1986.

However, many supporters have voiced their concerns over the Sweden international's long layoff, with some suggesting that he won't ever move the same.

Kulusevski is known to Tottenham fans as someone who can powerfully breeze past defenders, and it looks as though his physical strengths have not faded.

Dejan Kulusevski stat reveal puts all Tottenham concern to bed

Kulusevski is a heavily talented player, so there concern around his long time out is understandable.

The right-winger grabbed 21 goals and assists in 50 appearances for Spurs during the 2024-25 season, and Roberto De Zerbi is delighted to have a player like him back in the mix for selection.

The former Juventus star has taken his overall appearances for Tottenham to 148 since his return, and will be looking for more playing time after his four minutes against Chelsea and Coventry.

As highlighted by The Spurs Web on X, Kulusevski has recorded the third-highest sprint speed in the Premier League already this season, as per FotMob data.

The Tottenham ace is third with 36.1 kilometres per hour, while Chelsea's Pedro Neto (36.3 km/h) and Newcastle's Harvey Barnes (36.2 km/h) are narrowly ahead of him in first and second.

This is despite him running a combined 1.7 miles since returning from injury, which also includes distance covered in stoppage time.

Kulusevski spent 24 per cent of his time running against Chelsea, sprinting a total of 33 yards at Stamford Bridge.

To suggest that he must have lost his explosiveness is wrong, as the stats prove.

When could Kulusevski make his next Tottenham start?

Kulusevski's last start for Tottenham came in the 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace on 11 May, 2025, the same game when he suffered his injury.

Spurs face the Eagles next in the Premier League, and while it would be a fitting game for him to start and complete his full-circle comeback moment, it would be too soon for him.

De Zerbi will have been advised by medical staff to take it step by step with the Swede, especially with a busy winter period approaching.

Kulusevski could get at least 30 minutes of action against Palace and Leeds United before the international break, while he and De Zerbi could put a fitness plan in place over the two-week break.

With hard work at Hotspur Way, Kulusevski could be ready for his first start in Tottenham's first game after the international break, which comes against Ipswich Town on Saturday 21 November.

The match will be 559 days since he was last named in a starting eleven for Spurs.