A number of Newcastle United players came into this season under a relative amount of pressure.
Indeed, while Newcastle enjoyed some brilliant performances at times last season, consistency proved an issue and they ultimately missed out on European qualification.
The challenge was to consistently raise their game. Lewis Hall endured a difficult start to life at St James’ Park last season but has since established himself as a key player but not many others were stepping up to the plate earlier this season.
Eddie Howe even questioned their attitude following the Premier League defeat away at Brentford earlier this month, while Alan Shearer was equally as critical.
Still, things have improved of late. Newcastle have responded well to those comments and their star players are looking on form once again.
One of those is Sandro Tonali, who was perhaps under most pressure. Having missed so much football due to his betting ban last season, the Italian international really needed to hit the ground running.
Sandro Tonali of Newcastle in action during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Newcastle United and Brentford at St James' Park on Decembe...
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Now, in the deeper midfield role, it’s fair to say he’s doing exactly that.
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Howe, as you can imagine, has been delighted but believes the seeds for his form now were sown last season, where the midfielder could only train.
Eddie Howe says Sandro Tonali is so good in Newcastle training
Speaking via the Independent, Howe said of Tonali: “In terms of his general conduct and feeling around the training ground, that’s a quality that last year he brought to us. He was very low maintenance, a player that you can’t use in games, but can only train.
“He was incredibly helpful to the players that were playing, incredibly supportive of them, and he’s carried that on this year where now he’s obviously available and playing very well.
“But those qualities still exist. He’s still a very good team-mate, he’s still caring about the others players. I can’t speak highly enough of how he’s conducted himself.”
AC Milan really want Sandro Tonali to return from Newcastle
Such is his standing in the Italian game, it seems AC Milan are keen to bring Tonali back to Serie A.
In fact, it has been claimed that they are willing to offer Samuel Chukwueze, Reuben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori in order to land him.
Still, having made himself such a key player at Newcastle since his return, it’s incredibly difficult to imagine the club letting him go.
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