Dejan Kulusevski status update and five insights from Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League squad revisions

Tottenham have officially submitted their updated Champions League squad for the round of 16 and, potentially, later rounds, with Thomas Frank opting to use all three changes available to him.

European squad registration has been a long-running headache for Spurs. Every season, several players miss out because the club fails to meet UEFA’s homegrown requirements. Tottenham currently have just one club-trained player instead of the required four, while also carrying too many non-locally trained and association-trained players to fit within the allowed limit.

Although UEFA permits clubs to register up to 25 players, Spurs are restricted to naming only 22. This penalty is imposed because they fall three short of the club-trained quota, forcing them to leave three places vacant.

Frank made full use of the three changes allowed for the knockout phase, with players who had already featured in the competition for another club now eligible to be registered. That opened the door for Conor Gallagher to be added, alongside Mathys Tel and Radu Drăgușin. They replace injured pair Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur, as well as Brennan Johnson, who left for Crystal Palace during the January transfer window.

⸻

Kulusevski update

In many ways, Frank’s squad selection acts as an update on Dejan Kulusevski’s situation. Despite being a hugely important player for Spurs, the Swede has been left out, indicating he is nowhere near ready for the last-16 ties scheduled for mid-March against Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Galatasaray or Club Brugge.

That suggests his recovery has not progressed as hoped since Frank last spoke about the 25-year-old in January. Kulusevski suffered a rare and complex patella injury during last season’s match at Crystal Palace, something Frank acknowledged at the time.

The Spurs boss explained then that Kulusevski had received an injection to ease the pain and that clarity would come within three to four weeks. However, that timeframe has now passed, and his omission from the Champions League squad for next month — and potentially beyond — is not an encouraging sign.

Kulusevski himself offered a brief, tongue-in-cheek update last week, replying “Still alive” to a comment on Instagram.

As was the case with Dominic Solanke’s ankle issue earlier this season, Spurs supporters will now have to wait patiently for the pain to fully subside before seeing their creative talisman back on the pitch.

⸻

Rewards for Tel and Drăgușin

Mathys Tel’s Champions League journey has been an unusual one. The £30million summer signing was initially left out of the squad, briefly recalled to cover for the injured Solanke, then dropped again once the striker returned — only for Solanke to immediately justify Frank’s decision by scoring in consecutive European games.

Tel has now earned his way back into the squad for the knockout rounds and will be eager to make up for lost time, though he still needs more Premier League minutes, something Frank has so far been reluctant to provide.

There was also recognition for Radu Drăgușin, who has battled back impressively from a cruciate ligament injury. With a year between starts for Romania, the centre-back could now make just his second Champions League appearance — five years after his first with Juventus.

⸻

Reading the long-term injuries

Beyond Kulusevski, Frank’s squad decisions offer clues about which long-term absentees may return first. The signs suggest Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Bergvall are closest.

Kudus injured the tendon in his quad against Sunderland last month and was ruled out until after the March international break. Bergvall required surgery on his left ankle.

Rodrigo Bentancur is expected back in April following a serious hamstring injury, while James Maddison continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament issue. Although Maddison has been seen back on the ball, Drăgușin’s lengthy comeback serves as a reminder that full recovery still takes time. A return close to the end of the season remains the realistic target if all goes well.

Ben Davies, meanwhile, is facing a lengthy spell out after suffering a severe ankle injury that required surgery. With his contract expiring in the summer, a return in the near future is unlikely.

⸻

Bissouma misses out

Yves Bissouma may have hoped his recent Premier League starts would earn him a Champions League recall, but that was not to be. While the midfielder has featured recently due to a lack of options, players are now returning and Gallagher’s arrival further limits his opportunities.

If Spurs progress deeper into the competition, Bissouma could still see some domestic minutes as Frank rotates his squad. His contract expires in the summer, though Spurs are believed to hold an option to extend it by a year — a move that would protect the club’s value on the £30million signing from Brighton.

⸻

Youngsters left out

As expected, there was no place for Souza in the Champions League squad, with Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence available at left-back.

It was also no surprise to see January arrivals Mason Melia and James Wilson omitted. The two 18-year-old forwards, signed from St Patrick’s Athletic and Hearts respectively, were never likely to be included and cannot be added to UEFA’s B list because they have not been at the club long enough.

Between them, Melia and Wilson already have close to 150 senior appearances, and their chance at Spurs may yet come. For now, they are expected to train with the first team and continue their development — and goal scoring — with the under-21s for the remainder of the season.