The arrival of Igor Tudor as the interim manager of Tottenham Hotspur has been met with a mixture of hope and heavy pressure. Inheriting a squad that has struggled to find its rhythm and has yet to secure a league victory in the current calendar year, Tudor needs every tactical advantage he can get.
In this context, the latest medical news regarding Lucas Bergvall serves as a rare and vital boost for the North London club. While the initial outlook for the young Swedish international was bleak, recent reports suggest a recovery timeline that is far more optimistic than anyone had dared to hope.
Bergvall’s season was interrupted by a significant blow during a high-stakes Champions League encounter against Borussia Dortmund on January 20. The 20-year-old was a central figure in the Spurs midfield until a sharp turn resulted in a “high ankle sprain.”
The injury was severe enough to require immediate surgery, a procedure that often sidelines athletes for the better part of a season. When the club confirmed the surgery just three days later, they notably avoided giving a specific date for his return, leading many fans and pundits to assume his campaign was over.
The concern wasn’t just limited to the club level. Sweden’s national team manager, Graham Potter, spoke openly about the difficulty of the situation. With a crucial World Cup qualifier against Ukraine looming on March 26, Potter expressed doubts about whether Bergvall or his Tottenham teammate Dejan Kulusevski would be physically ready to compete.
The early whispers suggested a recovery period of at least three months, which would have effectively ended his chances of helping Sweden reach the world stage.
However, the narrative is shifting quickly. Recent updates from Swedish media outlets indicate that Bergvall’s rehabilitation is progressing at an impressive pace. The most significant indicator of this progress is the news that he has already discarded his protective walking boot.
Moving out of a boot and into active physical therapy is a major milestone in ankle recovery, signaling that the joint is stable enough to begin weight-bearing exercises.
According to the latest prognosis, if Bergvall continues on this trajectory without any unforeseen setbacks, he could be back on the training pitch in as little as six weeks. This is a dramatic reduction from the original three-month estimate.
While it remains a “race against time,” the possibility of him being fit for the clash against Ukraine is now very much on the table. For Igor Tudor, this means his midfield engine could be humming again just as the Premier League season enters its most critical phase.
| Recovery Milestone | Status | Expected Timing |
| Surgery Completion | Finished | Jan 23rd |
| Removal of Protective Boot | Finished | Mid-Feb |
| Return to Light Training | In Progress | Early March |
| Competitive Return | Potential | Late March |
The timing of this recovery is particularly important given the managerial upheaval at the club. After parting ways with Thomas Frank following a disastrous run of form, Spurs are in desperate need of a fresh start. Tudor’s appointment until the end of the season is designed to stop the bleeding, but he needs his most creative players available to implement his style of play. Bergvall, known for his vision and ability to link the defense to the attack, is exactly the type of player Tudor values in a high-intensity system.
As the club works to salvage their season and climb away from the lower reaches of the table, the medical department’s success with Bergvall could be the turning point. A return in late March would allow the midfielder to play a significant role in the final ten games of the season.
For a team that has looked stagnant and predictable in recent weeks, having a rejuvenated Bergvall back in the mix could provide the spark necessary to help Tudor secure a strong finish and perhaps even a permanent claim to the manager’s seat.
