Mohammed Kudus is approaching a return for Tottenham Hotspur after making steady progress in the final phase of his rehabilitation from a quadriceps injury.
The Ghana international has been unavailable since January, when he suffered the problem during Tottenham’s Premier League match against Sunderland. He was originally expected to miss about three months and make his comeback in April, but a setback during his recovery pushed that timetable back.
Kudus had initially hoped to avoid surgery so he could improve his prospects of representing Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, that approach was ultimately unsuccessful and the 26-year-old underwent an operation, ruling him out of the tournament and prolonging his absence from club football.
He returned to light individual training at the start of August and has continued to build up his workload. Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi has now indicated that the attacking player is close to being available again.
“Kudus is almost ready; that is a big point for us,” De Zerbi said.
The manager has nevertheless stressed that Tottenham will take a cautious approach and will not rush Kudus back before he is ready. The player will need to complete his rehabilitation and regain sufficient match fitness before he can be considered for a competitive appearance.
“It’s important also the management of the players; when the players have some problem, we have to stay calm, don’t take risks,” De Zerbi added.
Kudus could return before the next international break, which begins after Tottenham’s home fixture against Aston Villa on 19 September.
Tottenham are due to play Nottingham Forest on 5 September and Everton on 12 September before hosting Aston Villa. Those fixtures could provide a possible route back into the squad for Kudus, although his recovery will continue to be assessed by the club’s medical and coaching staff.
His return would represent a significant boost for De Zerbi, who has been without the Ghanaian’s creativity and attacking threat for a lengthy period. Kudus’ ability to carry the ball, create opportunities and contribute in the final third would give Tottenham an additional option as they manage their schedule.
The 26-year-old’s absence has been extended well beyond the initial estimate because of the recovery setback and subsequent surgery. While De Zerbi’s update suggests Kudus is now nearing the end of that process, Tottenham will prioritise his long-term fitness over an immediate return.
He will therefore continue his rehabilitation and work towards rebuilding his match sharpness before the club decides when he is ready to play competitively.
