Dejan Kulusevski has vowed to come back stronger after the injury that has kept him sidelined for an extended period.
The Sweden forward has not played since suffering a knee injury during a Premier League clash against Crystal Palace in May 2025, before undergoing surgery on the injured knee.
Kukusevski was initially ruled out for a shorter period of time, but his recovery period has now extended to almost a year.
In a recent interview, the 25-year-old has promised to be better on his return to action from injury, which is expected to be before the end of the season.
“I hear people talking: ‘Will he be the same player when he returns?’ No, I won’t be the same player,” Kulusevski said.
“I’ll be much better and much stronger, smarter and better for my teammates. It’s the driving force I have. It’s a challenge that I haven’t been able to overcome so far, since I’m not healthy.”
Kulusevski recently underwent another procedure to clean out his knee and will be back in action in the coming weeks.
He was seen with Sweden squad for the World Cup qualifying clash against Ukraine last Thursday, which they won 3-1 to reach the playoffs final.
Arsenal forward Victor Gyokeres netted a stunning hat-trick in absence of Kulusevski and Liverpool forward Alexander Isak, to lead his side to victory.
Sweden will now face Poland for a place in the World Cup on Tuesday night.
A win in that encounter will see them qualify for the 2026 edition of the World Cup after missing out on the last edition and they will join Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia in group F.
“But it’s not over yet and now is when the second game begins”, Kulusevski concluded.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
