Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is set to return to the dugout after Saturday’s Premier League trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Italian tactician has been recuperating since going under the knife to have his gallbladder removed last month.
In Conte’s absence, assistant manager Cristian Stellini has been in charge, guiding the North Londoners to three league wins over reigning champions Manchester City as well as London rivals West Ham United and Chelsea. It sees them sit in fourth spot on the log, four points clear of Newcastle United. Though Spurs’ latest game saw them eliminated from the FA Cup after losing 1-0 at Sheffield United in the fifth round.
Stellini has now confirmed he will lead the team one last time before Conte takes over on Sunday.
“Antonio is fine, he cannot wait to come back,” the Spurs assistant coach said on the club website. “The medical department decided to leave Antonio’s comeback until Sunday, after the match at Wolves, because that is one month after the surgery. That was the agreement from the doctor who did the surgery and our medical department.”
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???? Erik ten HagIt's time for you to vote for your @BarclaysFooty Manager of the Month!#PLAwards | https://t.co/QyadQoZAkh pic.twitter.com/wYAGsZIdms
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 2, 2023
Conte’s first match back in charge will come in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League against AC Milan next Wednesday, with Spurs needing to overturn their 1-0 deficit from the first leg if they are to have any chance of making it to the quarter-finals.
Earlier this week, the former Chelsea manager was nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Month Award for February alongside Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag and Fulham’s Marco Silva.
