Kulusevski's "Great" Knee: Too Good to Be True for Spurs?
Dejan Kulusevski is back. Or, at least, he says his knee is "great" after that recent procedure. The Swedish winger has been sidelined since mid-January, a layoff that's felt like an eternity for Tottenham fans watching their attack sputter. He played a full 90 minutes against Manchester City on January 19th, then sat out the 1-0 win over Fulham, the 3-0 FA Cup loss to Sheffield United, and the crushing 4-1 defeat at Leicester. Losing him for that stretch really hurt, especially with Richarlison still finding his feet and Lucas Moura a shadow of his former self.
Thing is, "great" is a strong word for a player who's dealt with hamstring issues earlier in the season and now this knee problem. Tottenham's medical reports have been a bit vague, citing "minor knocks" and "discomfort." We saw this play out with Cristian Romero last year, where "minor" often meant "out for a month." Kulusevski's last goal came way back on December 18th in that wild 2-2 draw with Brentford. His assist numbers have also dipped, with just one in his last five Premier League appearances before the injury. For a player who arrived in January 2022 and immediately provided 5 goals and 8 assists in just 18 league games, this season's 2 goals and 5 assists in 20 appearances feels like a step back.
Conte's Overreliance on Deki
Antonio Conte loves his wing-backs and his creative wide forwards. Kulusevski fits the latter perfectly, offering that drive, that unexpected pass, and a decent shot from outside the box. But Conte has leaned on him heavily, perhaps too heavily. Before this latest setback, Kulusevski had started 18 of Spurs' 20 Premier League matches this season. That's a lot of minutes for a player who, let's not forget, is still only 22. Tottenham's squad depth in attack, particularly out wide, isn't what it should be for a club with Champions League aspirations. When Kulusevski is out, the drop-off is stark. Ivan Perišić has been inconsistent, and Son Heung-min, while a superstar, looks a little lost without Kulusevski drawing defenders away on the opposite flank.
And that's the real issue here. If Kulusevski's knee really is "great," then fantastic. But if he's being rushed back, even subtly, because the team looks toothless without him, that's a recipe for disaster. We've seen players say they're fine, only to re-aggravate an injury a few weeks later. Spurs need him for the long haul, not just a quick fix to get through the next couple of Premier League games against West Ham and Chelsea.
The European Race is Tight
Tottenham sits fifth in the Premier League table with 39 points, just one point behind Newcastle, who have played one less game. Liverpool is breathing down their neck, only six points back with a game in hand. The race for those Champions League spots is fierce this season, probably the tightest it's been in years. Every point matters. Having a fully fit Kulusevski for the run-in, especially with crucial matches against Manchester United, Brighton, and Aston Villa coming up in April, is non-negotiable.
Look, I'm happy to hear Deki's feeling good. I really am. But my hot take? I don't buy it completely. I think he's pushing himself, and the club is probably encouraging it, because they know how desperate they are for his creativity. Spurs will need to manage his minutes carefully when he returns, perhaps bringing him off the bench for a few games. Otherwise, we'll be having this same conversation about another "minor setback" in a month or two.
I predict Kulusevski starts against West Ham this weekend, plays 60 minutes, and Tottenham still struggles to break down a resilient Hammers defense, settling for a 1-1 draw.