Dejan Kulusevski will be hoping a first Tottenham start comes his way on Sunday against Wolves following two substitute appearances under Antonio Conte.
Joining from Juventus on transfer deadline day after finding himself in and out of Massimiliano Allegri's first team, the 21-year-old has been handed minutes in Spurs' last two games as he looks to adapt to the pace and intensity of English football.
Introduced with 22 minutes to go in last weekend's FA Cup victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, the Swede was then on the pitch for the final 14 minutes in Wednesday's 3-2 defeat against Southampton.
Now the player will have his eye on starting his first Tottenham match after such a stop-start campaign to date.
Only starting in five of his 20 Serie A appearances under Allegri in 2021/22, Kulusevski was asked about why things didn't go to plan for him in Turin this season after such a good first year with the Bianconeri.
“Honestly, I don’t know. Sometimes it happens in football. I didn’t find enough space and I could not accomplish what I had inside myself,” he told Sky Sport Italia (via Football Italia).
“Life goes on. I’ve had many beautiful moments, especially last season. We had a nice end to the campaign winning the Coppa Italia against Atalanta.”
Kulusevski may have only played 36 minutes since his move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but he has already discovered for himself just how physical the game is.
“I am a Tottenham player now and I am happy,” he added. "Premier League is another sport. There’s more intensity and physicality. It’s almost like there are no fouls here.”
Now having the opportunity to work under Conte at Tottenham following his switch to N17, the head coach's demands on the training pitch at Hotspur Way have certainly "surprised" the Sweden international.
“I saw their training, it has surprised me: (like) another sport, faster, more intense, with sprints and physique," said Kulusevski.
