Antonio Conte is UNLIKELY to be back in the dugout to face former team Chelsea next Sunday

Tottenham assistant coach Cristian Stellini says he is not expecting to see Antonio Conte back in the dugout for Spurs’ game against Chelsea.

The Italian head coach is currently recovering at home in Italy after having gallbladder surgery.

Conte missed his side’s 2-0 London derby win against West Ham and Stellini thinks the Chelsea game next Sunday will also come too soon. 

‘No, I am not expecting Antonio is back for Chelsea but I expect Antonio will be back the week after Chelsea,’ Stellini said.

Tottenham host Conte’s former side in their next Premier League outing in what will be a crucial game in their chase for the top four.  

Instead, Stellini thinks a return ‘for Milan or Wolverhampton’ is the most likely scenario.

The assistant coach continued: ‘We have also the game in the FA Cup so maybe not Chelsea but we don’t know, because if Antonio feels well and he can live some stress without some pain or feel something strange, Antonio will be back.’

Despite Conte’s absence from the win against West Ham – Stellini revealed the 53-year-old was in constant communication with the Spurs bench. 

When asked about Conte’s involvement, Stellini said: ‘Today was a clear balance because Antonio is completely involved. Yesterday, the day before, he wants to listen and hear our feeling and our sensation.’

Stellini added: ‘He gave us some advice during the match [through texts] and we ask to him sometimes, ‘we want to do this, we want to change this player,’ and he agree with us. He said sometimes wait and that’s it.’ 

The interim head coach added that Conte gave him and his coaching team freedom to make their own decisions in the stadium. 

‘We are in balance to decide and to listen what Antonio likes but he wants every time from me and Ryan that we say to him how we feel with the players, how we feel with the performance because the stadium is different to watching the game on the TV,’ said Stellini. 

Spurs have an important run of games coming up with FA Cup and Champions League ties on the horizon.

Tottenham fans will be hoping they can use the momentum from this London derby win to kickstart their campaign as they approach the business end of the season.