Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski has suffered a setback in his recovery from a complicated kneecap injury.

Kulusevski revealed earlier this week that he had returned to full-team training more than a year after he last played for Spurs during their 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in May 2025.

After two surgeries and more than 450 days on the sidelines, the Swede is edging towards a return to action, with the playmaker included in Spurs’ Premier League squad on Thursday.

His rehabilitation has, however, taken a minor step back, with De Zerbi revealing a small issue had prevented him from taking part in training with the rest of the squad in recent days.

“Kulusevski started [training] with us at the beginning of the week, and then the last two days, a small, small problem, stopped [him from training],” De Zerbi said.

“But I think he’s in a good way. It’s going very well. I already said the medical staff is very high level.

“We can be positive with him. I’m looking forward to having Deki in the squad.”

After a spate of long-term injuries derailed Spurs’ campaign last season, De Zerbi has been cautious not to take risks with the fitness of several first-team players.

Kulusevski has been eased back into training, alongside the now-fit-again Destiny Udogie and Dominic Solanke, but the head coach was clear that the issue the 26-year-old picked up was not a concern.

“No, no. Nothing of importance,” he added.

James Maddison is another player De Zerbi has been careful not to rush back to fitness, with the England midfielder missing the majority of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Despite being eased back to action towards the end of last season, Maddison endured a disrupted pre-season before suffering a shoulder fracture on the opening weekend of the season against Brentford.

The 29-year-old was not involved against Charlton or Newcastle, and De Zerbi says he does not expect him to be involved in the squad for Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

“I think no, because after two days after the problem with Brentford and another two weeks out, it’s not the right moment.”