Kulusevski cleared to return for Tottenham’s Coventry clash

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi says Dejan Kulusevski will return to the matchday squad against Coventry City on Monday after a lengthy spell out with injury.

Kulusevski has endured a difficult rehabilitation period, but the Sweden international has now received medical clearance to play again. De Zerbi said the midfielder deserved the chance to experience the moment on the pitch after the struggles of his recovery.

“Deki, he suffered too much. He deserves to feel emotion on the pitch,” De Zerbi said at his pre-match news conference at Hotspur Way on Sunday.

The manager told Kulusevski about his return after Saturday’s training session.

“I spoke with him and I said to him, ‘Deki, look, I spoke with the medical staff, and they gave me the okay’ and he smiled like this,” said De Zerbi.

“We are happy, we are very, very happy. It’s not football. I’m not speaking about football. Okay, he’s a special player, but we are speaking about different things. He suffered a lot and his reaction was great.”

Tottenham will be without Savio and Lucas for the visit of Coventry. Savio sustained a muscular problem before the squad travelled to Marbella, while Lucas injured his knee during the match against Manchester United.

Lucas completed that game but reported to Tottenham’s medical staff at the training ground the following day.

“He finished the game, but the day after, he came to the training ground to our medical staff. I think two weeks,” De Zerbi said when asked about the expected length of Lucas’ absence.

Pedro Porro is also progressing towards a return, although the defender may not be available until Tottenham’s match against Chelsea.

“Pedro Porro, I think he’s coming – maybe in Chelsea he can play,” said De Zerbi.

De Zerbi avoids Richarlison discussion

De Zerbi was also asked about Richarlison’s future after the forward appeared for Tottenham’s Under-21s. The manager declined to say whether the club was considering a solution for the player in January.

“It’s not my problem anymore. You have to ask Vinai, Johan,” he said, referring the matter to Tottenham’s leadership.

The Italian added that his attention was firmly on improving the team and preparing for Monday’s fixture, rather than discussing decisions in which he had not been involved.

“I have no problem with nobody, but I don’t want to speak anymore because my focus is on the Coventry game and the focus is just to improve my team,” he said.

De Zerbi expects Coventry to provide a serious test, having been impressed by their Championship campaign last season. He believes they deserved to win the league and secure their place in the Premier League this season.

“Coventry is a good team. They played a fantastic Championship last season. They deserve to win the league and to play in the Premier League this season,” he said.

“They play with energy, with quality also, because they have players, (Sidiki) Cherif, I know very well, and other players.”

The Tottenham manager wants his side to show confidence while maintaining respect for their opponents.

“We are Tottenham and keeping humble, keeping humility, keeping what you want, but we want to show to be good enough to win the games, especially if we deserve to win the games,” he said.