Why isn't Antonio Conte at Tottenham vs Man City?

Antonio Conte won't be at Tottenham's match against Manchester City, with assistant Cristian Stellini leading the team instead.

With Newcastle dropping points on Saturday, drawing 1-1 at home to West Ham, Spurs can move to within a point of the Premier League's fourth-placed side with a win against the reigning champions.

They'll have to do it without their manager though, with Conte in his home country of Italy during the match.

Why isn't Antonio Conte at Tottenham vs Man City?

Antonio Conte has missed a number of matches through suspension in his managerial career, but that isn't why he'll be absent from the game against Man City.

His club announced earlier in the week that he'd undergone surgery in Italy to have his gallbladder removed and would remain in the country to recover.

The surgery took place after the manager experienced "severe abdominal pain” and was subsequently diagnosed with cholecystitis, an inflammation of the gallbladder.

When will Antonio Conte be back on the touchline?

It was initially hoped that Conte would be well enough to return to London for the match against Man City but he was deemed not well enough to travel by doctors.

The surgery was a success though and he has already stated that he's beginning to feel better, so barring any setbacks, he'll be able to return to the touchline relatively soon.

A specific timeframe hasn't been put on his recovery by the club, but he could well be back for the match against Leicester next weekend.