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

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

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

Conte missed his team’s 2-0 London derby win against West Ham and Stellini believes the match against Chelsea will also come too soon.

Speaking after the derby win, Stellini said: “No, I don’t expect Antonio to return for Chelsea, but I expect Antonio to return the week after Chelsea.”

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

Cristian Stellini says he doesn’t expect to see Antonio Conte again against Chelsea

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

The assistant coach continued: “We also have the game in the FA Cup, so maybe not Chelsea, but we don’t know, because if Antonio feels good and can live through a little bit of stress without pain or feeling something strange, Antonio will be back. .’

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

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

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

Spurs beat West Ham 2-0 in the London derby with goals from Emerson Royal and Son Heung-min

Royal (R) opened the scoring for Tottenham with an assist from winger Ben Davies.

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

Stellini said: “We’re in balance to decide and listen to what Antonio likes, but he always wants me and Ryan to tell him how we feel about the players, how we feel about the performance because the stadium is different than watching.” the game on TV.

Spurs are on a significant run of games with the FA Cup and Champions League on the horizon.

Tottenham fans will be hoping they can build on the momentum of this London derby win to jumpstart their season as they approach the business end of the season.