It is 500 days since Ange Postecoglou described Kulusevski's injury as "just a knock", and the Swede is only now closing in on a long-awaited comeback.
Kulusevski was substituted after 19 minutes of a 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace on 11 May 2025, having damaged his patella tendon in a challenge with Marc Guehi, and underwent surgery days later that ruled him out of that season's Europa League final win over Manchester United.
A prolonged recovery followed, complicated by a second operation in March to resolve lingering issues, and Kulusevski, a devout Christian, missed Sweden's World Cup this summer despite having hoped to be fit in time.
He finally returned to full team training on 31 August, 477 days after his injury, but the toll of full sessions meant he had to step back to individual work again after only a few days.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi described the setback as a "small, small problem" consistent with what was expected given the length of his absence, though it was enough to end any hope Sweden boss Graham Potter had of naming him in this month's squad.
There is now genuine optimism inside the club that Kulusevski could feature in a Tottenham matchday squad soon after the international break, possibly as early as the trip to Old Trafford on 10 October, the venue of one of his most memorable Spurs performances in a 3-0 win in September 2024. If not then, the expectation is one of the following three or four fixtures, barring any further setbacks.
De Zerbi believes Kulusevski can be "like a new signing" once he is available again, and spoke in August about what his return would mean beyond the pitch: "It's great watching him during the season and also because he deserves it because he suffered too much for his career for his age, for his level of human. I'm not speaking of him as a player but as a human."
Kulusevski, known for reading books on mentality and self-improvement and for practising meditation, has leaned on both during his recovery.
Like Tottenham's other players not away on international duty, he has been given a week off by De Zerbi before a fortnight of training begins next week, in what would be a timely boost for a Spurs side enduring a miserable start to the season.