Tottenham will have Dejan Kulusevski on the bench for their Premier League meeting with Coventry on Monday night.

Kulusevski 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.

The Swedish playmaker is, though, edging closer to a return to action and was part of the travelling squad as Spurs rescued a late 1-1 draw away to Manchester United last weekend.

While not part of the matchday squad at Old Trafford, Kulusevski has continued to train with the rest of the first team since then and travelled to Marbella for the club’s warm-weather training camp this week.

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.”

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.

Long layoff: Dejan Kulusevski has not played for Tottenham since May 2025 due to injury

AFP/Getty

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 raised eyebrows by praising Bentancur for showing character, with the Uruguayan’s absence meaning that more changes are now needed in midfield.

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