Antonio Conte 'very happy' with current Chelsea squad but would welcome additions

Following Wednesday night's Carabao Cup semi-final loss at Arsenal, Conte did little to hide his frustration at a lack of recruitment

'I'm happy. I'm happy to work with my players, I'm happy to work for this club' (Getty Images)

Antonio Conte kept his counsel on Chelsea's transfer policy as the head coach hinted Ross Barkley would make his full debut in Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Newcastle.

Following Wednesday night's Carabao Cup semi-final loss at Arsenal, Conte did little to hide his frustration at a lack of recruitment, with Barkley's £15m purchase from Everton on January 5 the only incoming player so far this month.

Conte said on Wednesday: "The club decide our transfer market. From the summer, the club decides every single player."

Asked whether any arrivals can be anticipated, Conte took his usual stance to defer to the club.

"The club will inform you if there is news," Conte said. "As I said before, I think I'm repeating every three days, I would be very happy to continue to work with my players. I would be very happy if there are some new players. It doesn't change my opinion, my mind only three days (on).

"I'm repeating always the same thing. I'm the coach. My task is to try to do the best for this club, to try to improve my players for this club."

Conte, who won the Premier League in his first season in charge last term, was asked if he is happy.

He added: "Yes, I'm happy. I'm happy to work with my players, I'm happy to work for this club.

"I'm happy to try every day to put all myself for this job. I'm happy for this."


 Asked whether any arrivals can be anticipated, Conte took his usual stance to defer to the club 
 (Getty)

With striker Alvaro Morata (back) and playmaker Willian (hamstring) out, along with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Barkley is poised to make his first Chelsea start against the Magpies.

Barkley has made two substitute appearances, having last played for Everton in May due to a hamstring problem.

Conte said: "After a bad injury you need a bit of time to be fit, 100 per cent.

"But if you want to accelerate this process he has to play, not only to have the training sessions, especially in this moment, after Willian and Morata injuries we don't have other options."

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas trained on Friday and could return to contention following a hamstring problem.

Willian, meanwhile, was poised to undergo a scan to determine the extent of his hamstring problem sustained at Arsenal.

PA