The big lingering Dejan Kulusevski question after the November international break

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and forward Dejan Kulusveski has a couple of games under his belt now, and in each substitute appearance the Swedish international has made, he has impressed the fans to a certain extent. His dazzling run on his return against Coventry showed that the speed has not left him despite the devastating nature of his injury, and his teasing shot on target against Dean Henderson and Crystal Palace last weekend displayed the ability to create space for his shot and his finishing are still very much intact, too.

Spurs are still in need of goals for all of their dominance and their new undefeated streak since the last international break, and as they head into a new international break this November, the Lilywhites are wondering where else they can scour more goals and attacking fire power from.

WIlson Odobert has returned to training and may be closer to returning than initailly thought, but he is not a real scoring option. He, like Kulu, can change games with his skill and quality, but Kulusevski is the one with a track record of double digit goals in a top five European league.

And so the focus is on Kulusevski as he also makes his triumphant return to the Swedish national team squad, which may have some feelings of trepidation from the Spurs side with how fresh his injury still is in everyone's minds.

But the big lingering question for Tottenham Hotspur is when exactly can Dejan Kulusevski start again. It's a fine balance, because Spurs do not want to put too much on his plate too soon. That knee injury was so devastating that everyone thought his career might be over, and so for him to be back on the pitch and look this good before 2027 is a massive victory nobody can take for granted at N17.

If he's ready, though, Tottenham do need him. And at some point, the string of positive appearances off the bench have to lead to something more, and as Spurs continue to struggle for goals, Kulu as a possible false nine option over Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush begins to become a more attractive proposition.

That's the big question Spurs have to continue to map out behind the scenes with Roberto De Zerbi. At one point do they feel Kulu is ready medically and in a footballing sense to start? And will Spurs be influenced to start him sooner if Solanke and Marmoush still can't score on a regular basis?