Conte could still be under spotlight despite his absence if Stellini leads Spurs to victory

TOTTENHAM v WEST HAM (Sunday, 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports)

- Dan Kilpatrick

THE question of Antonio Conte’s longterm future has been superseded by concerns about his short-term health.

Conte initially defied doctor’s orders by returning to work last week following emergency gallbladder surgery, but was ordered to rest at home in Italy during a routine check-up after Tuesday’s game in Milan.

Yesterday, he admitted he had “underestimated the procedure” and the Tottenham head coach will now recuperate in Turin until he has made an “entire recovery”, ruling him out of Sunday’s home derby against West Ham.

For the second time in four games, Conte will watch his players from hundreds of miles away, while assistants Cristian Stellini (below) and Ryan Mason manage the side.

At times this season, it has been easy to wonder about Conte’s commitment to Spurs. He has consistently refused to say if he will stay at the club beyond the end of the campaign, while his furious and emotional reactions to big defeats have given way to a kind of weary and flippant resignation.

His ill-judged determination to rush back to work just over a week after going under the knife, though, suggests the fires of competition are still burning in the Italian and goes a way to proving his devotion to his players.