Cristian Stellini hints at Tottenham changes for Sheffield United FA Cup tie

Antonio Conte’s assistant Cristian Stellini has suggested they will change the squad for Tottenham’s FA Cup fifth round tie against Sheffield United on Wednesday – but says he wants Harry Kane to play every game.

Kane was rested for the first and only time this season for the fourth-round win at Preston, with the club managing his training in recent weeks following a virus.

Conte – who will miss the game again as he continues to recover from gall bladder surgery in Italy – and Stellini have options up front with Richarlison, Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevski, Arnaut Danjuma and Lucas Moura all fit.

But asked if they had a difficult decision to make regarding the England captain, Stellini said: “No, I don’t feel that way. It’s normal for Harry to want to play every game and we want him to play every game.”

Stellini, who has a 100 per cent record in three games in the dugout since Conte fell ill, added: “We will pick the right team to play a great game, we can also win by making some changes.

“We have full confidence in all the players we have so we can make changes and nothing has to change. Last season we were disappointed after the Middlesbrough game. But now we’re at a point where players have to take responsibility to follow that momentum. Me, Ryan Mason and the whole staff are working hard, it will be tough tomorrow for sure, but we have the opportunity to play a good game and win with all the players.”

Conte is expected to return to work in time to be back on the pitch for Saturday’s visit of Wolves.

“I think this week he will be back,” Stellini confirmed. “He is not responsible for this game, but our doctor decides the right time for Antonio to return.

“It is a question for our medical department because they are consulting with the doctor who did the operation. They check in together every day and they’ve decided the right time for Antonio to come back and I think it will be this week.”

Stellini said there were no new injury concerns ahead of the visit to Bramall Lane, but Hugo Lloris, Rodrigo Bentancur (both knees), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) and Yves Bissouma (ankle) remain on the sidelines.