Mohammed Kudus is approaching a return for Tottenham Hotspur after completing the final stages of his rehabilitation from a serious quadriceps injury, manager Roberto De Zerbi says.
The Ghana forward, 26, has been unavailable since January, when he sustained the injury during Tottenham’s Premier League fixture against Sunderland.
Kudus had initially been expected to recover within three months. However, a setback prolonged the process and eventually meant the player needed surgery, extending his absence by several more months.
That lengthy lay-off also ruled Kudus out of Ghana’s 2026 World Cup campaign in North America.
The forward restarted his recovery in early August by undertaking light individual training. He has continued to make steady progress since then and is now considered close to being available for selection again.
“Kudus is almost ready; that is a big point for us,” De Zerbi said.
Despite the encouraging update, the Tottenham manager indicated that the club would take a cautious approach and would not risk bringing Kudus back before he is fully prepared.
“It’s important also the management of the players; when the players have some problem, we have to stay calm, don’t take risks,” he added.
Kudus could return before the next international break if his rehabilitation continues without further complications. That break begins after Tottenham’s home Premier League match against Aston Villa on 19 September.
Before that fixture, Spurs are scheduled to play Nottingham Forest on 5 September and Everton on 12 September.
The matches against Forest and Everton would give Kudus a potential opportunity to build up his fitness before Tottenham host Aston Villa, although De Zerbi’s comments suggest the club will continue to assess his condition carefully.
Kudus’ absence has followed an injury timeline that proved considerably longer than initially anticipated. His original three-month recovery estimate was extended after the setback, while the subsequent operation delayed his return further.
He has therefore spent several months away from competitive action, as well as missing Ghana’s involvement in the 2026 World Cup campaign in North America.
The progress made since he resumed individual work in August has now brought the Tottenham forward within sight of a comeback. However, the club’s priority remains ensuring that his rehabilitation is completed properly rather than setting an unnecessarily early return date.
