'A real machine' - Positive Dejan Kulusevski injury update from Tottenham team-mate

Lucas Bergvall has said that Dejan Kulusevski is doing "incredibly well" in training at Tottenham and labelled his fellow Swede as a "real machine". Kulusevski has been out of the game for more than 500 days now, since May last year after suffering a complicated injury to the patella in his right knee during a Premier League match against Crystal Palace. The 26-year-old faced a couple of setbacks during his recovery which meant he missed the entirety of last season as well as the World Cup this summer. However, the Swede returned to full training with Roberto De Zerbi's squad on the final day of last month. He paused briefly after picking up a small problem as his body adjusted to regular first team training again, but was back with his Spurs team-mates again last week. Sweden boss Graham Potter decided not to call up Kulusevski for this international break to make sure he continues to progress at his own pace at Hotspur Way. Now Bergvall has spoken about his Spurs team-mate, who could finally feature on De Zerbi's bench in the weeks after the international break if he continues to train without any reaction or setbacks. "He is incredibly hungry and has done incredibly well. He is a real machine. We are all looking forward to having him back," the 20-year-old is quoted as saying on international duty by Fotbollskanalen . When asked if Kulusevski will return for Tottenham before too long, Bergvall added: "I absolutely think so. Then it's difficult for me to judge how he feels and how the club sees it. But it's clear that he's doing incredibly well in training and is making strides every day." FOLLOW OUR TOTTENHAM FB PAGE! Latest Spurs news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page The Swedish media have taken the opportunity to speak to those players who know Kulusevski well during this prolonged international break. Brighton star and Kulusevski's friend Yasin Ayari, who is also the partner of the Tottenham man's sister Sandra, had his say on the attacker this week. "He's started training and is making progress. I'm happy for him, that he can come back and do what he loves. I just hope that things will go well when he's 100 percent. He's always been in shape and taken care of his body," the 22-year-old said. "It's mostly mental, to see how mentally strong he's been during this process. That he's managed to keep a smile on his face even when it's taken so long. There's always been setbacks, but he always wakes up happy." He added: "It's incredible how strong he's been on this journey. Not many people can wake up and keep fighting after going through this much. He keeps fighting and is happy at the same time. When it comes down to it, it's not normal. He's very strong mentally. I learn a lot from that." Ayari was asked when he believes Tottenham and Sweden fans will see Kulusevski back in action again on the international stage. "I don't know. I don't see him every day," he admitted. "Hopefully soon. We've all missed him in the national team. Hopefully soon. It's hard for me to say. I don't see him every day, I just talk to him. "I hope soon. He's back on the training ground, so step by step we hope he'll be back. When he's back he'll be a 100 [per cent]."