Tottenham Hotspur have received a significant injury boost ahead of Sunday's Premier League North London derby with Arsenal after welcoming Dejan Kulusevski back to training.
The Juventus loanee has experienced a disrupted 2022-23 season, making just 13 appearances in all competitions and contributing one goal and five assists in the process.
Kulusevski firstly missed 10 games between October and November after picking up a hamstring injury on international duty, but he returned prior to the World Cup break.
However, after starting in his side's 2-2 draw with Brentford on Boxing Day, Kulusevski picked up a fresh muscular problem prior to Tottenham's New Year's Day defeat to Aston Villa.
The issue was initially only expected to keep the Sweden attacker out for that game, but he has since remained absent for meetings with Crystal Palace and Portsmouth in the top flight and FA Cup respectively.
© Reuters
Antonio Conte admitted last Wednesday that he could not put a timeframe on Kulusevski's return, telling reporters: "I don't know [when he's returning]; the medical department told me this morning that he is not available. I don't know how close he is to coming back with us."
However, with Arsenal paying a visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend, Spurs have been able to bring Kulusevski back into the fold to ease Conte's selection concerns in the final third.
Bryan Gil has impressed alongside Son Heung-min and Harry Kane during Kulusevski's absence, but the Scandinavian could now push for a return to the first XI for the North London derby.
Kulusevski has amassed six goals and 13 assists from 33 appearances for Tottenham since joining last January, and his move is expected to be made permanent in the near future.
As well as Kulusevski, Tottenham are also set to welcome Yves Bissouma back into the fray after an ankle injury kept him out of Spurs' FA Cup success over Portsmouth at the weekend.
✅ Dejan Kulusevski
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 10, 2023
❌ Rodrigo Bentancur
❌ Richarlison
✅ Yves Bissouma
Tottenham train ahead of the north London derby on Sunday. 💪 pic.twitter.com/dJ0i9gTvna
There is also optimism over the availability of Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who has been struggling to overcome a groin problem sustained at the World Cup with Uruguay.
However, Lucas Moura is still sidelined with a tendon problem, while his compatriot Richarlison will likely take a little bit longer to fully heal from his thigh injury.
Tottenham find themselves fifth in the Premier League table approaching the halfway point of the Premier League season - four places and 11 points worse off than Arsenal having played a game more.
The Lilywhites were defeated 3-1 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season, but they have won all three of their Premier League games against their bitter rivals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Ben Knapton
