Tonali at the ’next stage’ of career ahead of return from gambling ban, says Newcastle manager Howe
Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan but only played 12 games before he was handed a long suspension by the Italian football federation in October for betting on Milan and another Italian club, Brescia, when he played for those teams.
Sandro Tonali is set to make his return for Newcastle on Wednesday after a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules, with manager Eddie Howe saying the Italy midfielder feels “at the next stage” of his career.
Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in the offseason of 2023 but only played 12 games before he was handed a long suspension by the Italian football federation in October for betting on Milan and another Italian club, Brescia, when he played for those teams.
An independent regulatory commission also sanctioned Tonali with an extra two-month ban that was suspended until the end of this season.
The 10-month suspension ends late Tuesday, enabling Tonali to be available for Newcastle’s League Cup match at Nottingham Forest the following day.
Howe said Tonali would be in the squad provided he isn’t injured in the final training session Tuesday and said the midfielder will experience a range of emotions.
“Probably a lot of excitement — you feel like you are at the next stage of your career really,” Howe said. “When you have a long period of time out, (you have) a long time to think, analyze and reflect.
“I’m sure he’s done all of those things and now he’s doing what he loves, which is playing football and that will be an incredible release for him.”
Tonali has been back in training with Newcastle but hasn’t been able to play in any friendlies, though British newspaper The Guardian has reported he took part in a behind-closed-doors game against Burnley recently with coaching staff as referees.
“He’s fit, he just doesn’t have the match (fitness), the bigger spaces, the 11 vs. 11. Every footballer will tell you what is the most important thing – the game time,” Howe said.