The Tottenham Hotspur boss has been speaking about two of his attackers and the squad's trip to Spain to bond this week

It's a case of one in and one out at Tottenham as Roberto De Zerbi will finally name Dejan Kulusevski on the bench to face Coventry after 527 days out but has firmly closed the door on Richarlison.

Kulusevski last started a match on May 11, 2025 when a Marc Guehi tackle left him with a complicated patella injury in his right knee, wiping out his following season and his World Cup dreams. The 26-year-old has battled back after setbacks and De Zerbi was finally able to tell him on Sunday that he would be in his matchday squad to face the Sky Blues, prompting a huge grin from the Swede.

"It has been very tough for him. It is the worst situation for a player but injury can also be important for a player because you can work on your spirit," said the Tottenham boss. "When you are injured you have to speak with yourself, you have to communicate in a good way, you have to be stronger, you have to fix targets, you have to go through the pain, the tough moment and you can build a strong character."

He added: "As a player I was injured many, many times and I am very close with Xavi Simons for example in this moment. I follow him step by step in his journey as an injured player. Like [James] Maddison, because the management of Maddison is totally different. He is another special player and now he is available to play.

"Kulu was a very important player, even last season when he was injured. It is a part of this job for the players but at the same time can be a crucial moment to become better, to become stronger."

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De Zerbi appeared to indicate that Maddison remains in the category of impact players from the bench as the 29-year-old last started a match before Kulusevski did before an ACL injury and recent little setbacks.

"Maybe yes [he can start] You need to play many games to reach the best physical condition but there are players able to be important even if they play 10-15-20 minutes and James is one player like this. Right now he is ready to start the game but I don't know if we will start with him. I'm waiting for that moment," he said.

One player who will certainly not be available on Monday night is Richarlison. Despite Spurs' struggles in front of goal, a club decision was taken last month to leave the Brazilian out of the Premier League squad after he turned down moves in the summer, having told De Zerbi of his intention to depart.

The Italian is understood to have approved the hierarchy's decision and the 29-year-old has been in the news again this week. He played and scored for the under-21s in a Jersey Mike's Trophy match at Cheltenham Town and then commented on his situation on social media.

Former Everton striker Duncan Ferguson had said on the Overlap Daily: "You don’t leave a player like that out unless there’s been a real murder: he’s chinned him or there’s been a proper scrap on the training ground."

Richarlison shared that on Instagram with the caption: "Thanks Duncan Ferguson, you are right."

When asked about the striker on Sunday, De Zerbi made it clear that he is nothing to do with him anymore unless the Brazil international wants to come and speak to him.

"The situation is very clear. OK, I am a coach and I take responsibility and criticism but I didn't take the decision about Richarlison. The decision started from the club. I am the coach of the club. Richarlison knows everything. If he wants to speak about me he knows where I stay from the morning to the evening [in my office]," said the 47-year-old.

"That is not my problem because my problem is Solanke and Marmoush to score goals and win games and not Richarlison anymore. But I hear nothing. There is nothing more to say about this situation. Everyone can say what they want but it is not my problem."

Richarlison's exile comes at a time when ditched Spurs academy striker Will Lankshear also can't stop scoring after his £20million move to Middlesbrough with 11 goals in 14 games already for the third-placed Championship side.

Spurs have just returned from a four-night warm-weather training camp in Marbella, spent working and bonding the new-look squad together as they aim to climb off the bottom of the Premier League table. De Zerbi admitted that he had just one rule for the Spanish trip that was enforced at meal times.

"We worked on the pitch, we stayed together - we removed phones from breakfast, lunch and dinner to stay together because now it is like (fiddles with imaginary phone) all the time," said the Italian. "We had two or three important meetings speaking about football - our situation and how everyone has to take responsibility - and nothing more. There were some dinners just for the players, some dinners just for the staff."

On whether the players were allowed to go out, he added: "Yes, with freedom. With no military rules. I love freedom."

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With some much-publicised problems occuring during other clubs' warm-weather training camps over the years, there were no such issues for Spurs and De Zerbi believes it's because everyone is aware of the situation they are in.

"As a coach you understand you have to improve, you have to change the situation and you try to find all solutions," he said. "I already did this type of training camp twice with Marseille and it was a good solution. I spoke with the club, with Vinai, with Johan, with the owner and together we took the decision.

"But it's nothing special, it's just to spend more time together because in pre-season we couldn't. We had many new players and players who came back from the World Cup. Three or four days together without family, putting the club at the top of their priorities is normal and is good."