Antonio Conte is unlikely to be on the touchline for Tottenham's match against Manchester City on Sunday after successful surgery to remove his gallbladder but there is some hope he could be well enough to be in the stadium.
Conte is recuperating in Italy after going under the knife in his homeland on Wednesday. The 53-year-old, who lives out of a London hotel when he is in the UK, had returned home for a few days off following Spurs' FA Cup fourth-round win over Preston on Saturday.
Conte's assistant Cristian Stellini will deputise in Friday's pre-match press conference and is set to be on the touchline against the League champions.
There remains a chance Conte could travel back to London in time to watch the game from elsewhere in the stadium, most likely the director's box, with a direct line to Stellini, but if he is not deemed well enough to travel, he will be forced to communicate with the dugout from Italy.
Conte suffered severe abdominal pain leading to a diagnosis of cholecystitis and on Wednesday night confirmed the operation had been successful.
"Thank you for your lovely messages," he wrote on social media. "My surgery has gone well and I’m already feeling better.
"Now it’s time to recover, I can’t wait to get back on the field with the team."
