Conte's trust in old guard pays off as new signings are brought up to speed

AFTER a controlled and ruthless victory over Southampton, which has only increased the sense of expectation around Tottenham, Antonio Conte challenged his six summer signings to make an impact.

- Dan Kilpatrick

"I trust a lot in the old players - and in this moment they are more reliable than the new ones," said the Spurs head coach, explaining why he named none of his new additions in the starting XI for Saturday's 4-1 win.

The half-dozen new faces were signed to transform Conte's options, but on this weekend's evidence he is likely to stick with a tried and tested formula until the midweek fixtures begin in September.

Every Conte player must undertake a rigorous process of assimilation before they are trusted by the Italian, who spent the first two months of his Spurs tenure assessing his squad.

Having sorted the Tanguy Ndombeles from the Eric Diers, Conte's Spurs clicked into a menacing gear from late February onwards, barring blips against Brighton and Brentford in April.