Ross Barkley set to get Chelsea start in FA Cup as Antonio Conte says he is 'happy' with current squad

The Premier League champions have been linked with a number of attacking players during the transfer window.

Ross Barkley is set to make his first start for Chelsea on Sunday. Matt Dunham / AP Photo

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 £15 million (Dh78.2m) purchase from Everton on January 5 the only incoming player so far this month.

Conte said: "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 he was planning to stay beyond the end of the season, Conte, who is under contract until June 2019, said: "Nothing has changed. There was the summer, then after the summer. Nothing

has changed."

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

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.

Conte downplayed the severity of the Willian injury, saying: "I don't think we are talking about a serious injury.