Antonio Conte is about to embark on 43 days that could…

Antonio Conte is about to embark on 43 days that could shape his and Tottenham's season

The Premier League may be on pause at the minute but games are going to come thick and fast once the first international break of the season is over. With the 2022 World Cup getting underway two months today, clubs face an intense schedule in October and November.

A busy time in the year anyway with European and domestic cup action to fit in, the calendar is jam-packed this year due to having to shoehorn a winter World Cup in. It really is going to be punishing for clubs, especially those involved in European competition.

Tottenham are one of those following their return to the Champions League. Having already played two of their games prior to September's international break, Antonio Conte's men have another three in October and one in November as the group stage needs to be finished ahead of the World Cup.

Add in a round of Carabao Cup football and a midweek round of Premier League action, those involved in Europe are barely going to have time to catch their breath with fixtures pencilled in every three or four days. Rotation is going to be a must in this period, and those teams with a big squad at their disposal will have an advantage compared to those who don't.

Ahead of Premier League football taking a break in the middle of November for the World Cup, Conte's Spurs team face an eye-watering 13 games in 43 days. Eight of those come in the Premier League, four are in the Champions League and the final one is a Carabao Cup tie away at Nottingham Forest.

Tottenham's season really could be shaped over those 43 days with some crunch games coming up. In terms of the Premier League, away games at Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as a home showdown with Liverpool, really are going to be a test of Tottenham's credentials as they look to keep their place towards the top of the table.

Starting the season strongly and registering 17 points from a possible 21 despite struggling in some matches, Tottenham are in a promising position as things stand but things could quickly change depending on how they fare in their next eight league fixtures. As well as league football, Spurs' Champions League aspirations will become a lot clearer over the coming weeks as they look to advance from Group D.

The favourites to top the group when the draw was made in August, the Lilywhites currently sit second in the standings behind Sporting CP but their away ties at Eintracht Frankfurt and Marseille could shape how their group campaign turns out. Providing Tottenham can come through their 13 games in a strong position, they will be in a very good place in Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup to attack the final months of the season.

We are now going to see what Conte's Tottenham team really are made of with this relentless schedule about to get underway very soon.

Tottenham's intense schedule ahead of the World Cup: