Chelsea news: Antonio Conte insists John Terry is still an important figure, on and off the pitch

But Italian makes clear he will pick players on form not reputation

Antonio Conte has some tough decisions to make this weekend against Southampton (Getty)

Antonio Conte believes that John Terry still has a key role to play at Chelsea – even if it is not on the pitch.

Terry had been out of action since turning an ankle in early September in the draw at Swansea but returned in midweek against West Ham in the EFL Cup. However, he looked rusty at best in that defeat and was partly at fault for both Hammers goals as Chelsea lost 2-1.

“It is logical that as John has just come back from injury it is not easy to start and find the direction,” Conte said at his Friday afternoon press conference. “But I know John is important for us. If he plays or doesn’t play he is important: in the changing room, for his team-mates, for the club.”

However, Conte was eager to stress that regardless of Terry’s stature at the club, he has no right to a first team place. The team will always come first for the Italian.

“I repeat in this case, as always,” he added, “what is important is the team, not the individual player. I have to always take the best decision for the team not an individual. I don’t like to even talk about individual players or their performances. We win together and we lose together.”

Conte added that he was disappointed to go out of the EFL Cup but that he had learnt a lot from the defeat that he could he use in the future. “I am satisfied for the team,” he said. “We wanted to win, to stay in the Cup, it is a pity.

“But I watched a video of the game and we played a good game with a good intensity against a tough team. West Ham played with the same players who play in the league. I would have liked us to stay in the game and not conceded that second goal. But we showed good spirit until the end. I saw Pedro at wing-back, Oscar in midfield so it was good for me.”

Conte admitted that the Premier League is tough and unpredictable and with just one point separating five teams at the top could be a fight to finish. But he has urged his players not to look at the table, just focus on the job in hand – which this weekend is Southampton away on Sunday.

“This league is very difficult,” Conte said. “Every game anything can happen. For this reason it is important to get continuity in our performance and to trust in our work. We shouldn’t look too much at the table. We need to think and focus on our work on the pitch, game by game, step by step. It is too early to talk of the title. We must improve game by game.

“Southampton are a very good team, very strong. I have been watching many games and I like Claude Puel because his team play offensive football. In their last game they played very well against Manchester City. They are more compact in a defensive situation. On Sunday it will be tough. It can be a good test for us.”