Spurs return to action on Boxing Day against Brentford, just eight days after two of their players – France captain Hugo Lloris and Argentina defender Cristian Romero – played in the FIFA World Cup final.

Lloris will be on the bench against the Bees but Romero is unlikely to be in the squad.

Spurs also have to contend with Richarlison's absence, with the Brazil forward having sustained a serious hamstring injury while playing in Qatar. Son Heung-min, Eric Dier and Harry Kane made it to the Round of 16 and quarter-finals of the competition with Korea Republic and England respectively, while Ivan Perisic went deep into the competition with Croatia, which made the semi-finals and finished third overall after winning the third-place play-off against Morocco.

"I am not really happy," Conte said. "On one hand, you are happy because for my club, Tottenham, to have 12 players at the [FIFA] World Cup it means that we are in the right way to try to be competitive and to try to win something.

"But it is normal that when you have so many players play a tournament like this, especially during the season, that now it is not easy because the physical condition is not at the top.

"It is impossible to give them a lot of rest and for sure with the players that didn't play the World Cup and we work for four weeks, now they are in a great physical condition.

"We worked a lot on the tactical aspect and physical aspect. Now they are at a level that is better than the players who finished the [FIFA] World Cup.

"For this reason I think I have to make the best decision for the game against Brentford.

"On one side I have players who I worked with for four weeks really well and on the other side, I have players who worked at the World Cup and are not at the top at the moment."

After taking on Brentford, Spurs host Aston Villa on New Year's Day before facing Crystal Palace on 5 January (AEDT).