Kulusevski says ‘nervous system changes’ behind Spurs return

File Image: Tottenham midfielder Dejan Kulusevski returned to action after a 17-month injury absence following knee surgery. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski has explained how a “change to my nervous system” allowed him to play again after a 17-month injury absence that left him worried his career might be over.

The Swedish midfielder came on to a rapturous reception in the 87th minute of Spurs 3-1 home win over Coventry last week. He then made another substitute appearance in Saturday’s victory at Chelsea, as the club kept improving after a poor start to the Premier League campaign.

Kulusevski suffered several setbacks following knee surgery in May 2025, but a second operation in March finally put him on the path to recovery.

Speaking to SpursPlay ahead of Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace, the 26-year-old said: “It had been like one year and a couple of months, and I still can’t walk on the stairs. I can’t walk on the stairs like a normal guy. I have to play football, so in my head I’m not going to give up, but I have to think that if this doesn’t work out, what do I do?

ALSO READ: Carrick is unsurprised to still be in the job, says Bruno Fernandes fully committed to Man United

“I went to a physio in Sweden. He was able to change my nervous system and then it felt different. When I did the exercises, I said, ‘I don’t have pain, like this hurt yesterday. Why is this not hurting today?’

“Then I did the next exercise and said, ‘this is not hurting,’ and I went into the room to my wife. And I told her, ‘it’s over, we’re going to do this’. From the minute I went into the room, it was better.”

He added: “There was still pain but it was different. Now I had control of my leg and then that is when the grind started that summer. I started to play football and it got better every day. I was limping and everything, but it was different now.

“I got much stronger in a short time and I went from ‘this guy will not play football any more’ to playing really good football in just a couple of weeks.”

The former Juventus winger also praised Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi, saying: “I knew from before that he is a very special manager, so when he came here, it felt like it was special.”