Staff Reporter.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has tested positive for Covid-19 but is expected to return to the dugout for this weekend’s game, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.
Spurs host Brighton & Hove Albion in the league on Saturday. The Italian was on the sidelines when they won 4-0 at Aston Villa on Saturday.
“Antonio tested positive for Covid at the weekend and has been appropriately distancing. We expect him to be symptom free and in charge of the match on Saturday,” a club spokesperson said.
Conte – who has been isolating away from the squad after testing positive for Covid – is also expected to hold his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon as originally scheduled.
However, it will take place virtually on Zoom rather than the in-person conferences which have returned at Hotspur Way training ground and across the Premier League following the lifting of restrictions.
Spurs will hope Conte’s positive test has not disrupted their preparations as they look to take another step towards Champions League qualification with a fifth straight Premier League win.
Spurs won their last four games to climb up to fourth in the standings with 57 points, three points ahead of north London rivals Arsenal who have a game in hand.