Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali looks set to miss one Italy game – but it’s actually good news for Eddie Howe.
The final international break of 2025 is now upon us.
Newcastle United were beaten 3-1 at Brentford on Sunday afternoon, losing yet again on the road.
Eddie Howe was far from blameless as the Magpies were reduced to 10 men and suffered a second-half capitulation.
Howe must look for answers over the international break, all while hoping his players return to Tyneside unscathed.
Sandro Tonali playing for Italy against Estonia in a 2006 World Cup qualifier.
Photo by FIGC/FIGC via Getty Images
Gennaro Gattuso on Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali
One key player heading away on international duty is midfielder Sandro Tonali.
Tonali sparked discussion around his future last week, refusing to look beyond a year-to-year approach at St James’ Park.
Other clubs are bound to be watching Tonali’s situation closely, but Newcastle will surely stand firm on his future.
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Tonali will now be in action over the international break, though he seemingly won’t play as much as expected.
Italy face Moldova and Norway in this international break, first travelling to Chisinau before returning to host Norway at San Siro in Milan.
Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso has admitted to La Gazzetta dello Sport that he intends to play Tonali against Moldova, but not against Norway.
Tonali is one yellow card away from a suspension, and if he picks it up against Moldova, then he can miss out against Norway anyway.
Yet if he were to pick up a yellow card against Norway, he would miss a potential World Cup qualification play-off – something Gattuso wants to rule out.
“Barella is suspended, Tonali is on a booking: Nicolò won’t be playing in Moldova, and we’ll leave Sandro out in Milan because we can’t risk a yellow card that would then prevent him from playing when, and if, we have to play the semifinal play-off at the end of March,” said Gattuso.
Sandro Tonali news a boost for Eddie Howe ahead of Newcastle United v Manchester City
Newcastle return from the international break with a game against Manchester City.
That is a tough game at any time, never mind when coming out of an international break.
Key Newcastle players will take on an extra workload in this break, but Tonali has at least been ruled out of one game already.
That means Tonali will have more than a week without a game before facing City at St James’ Park.
Howe will be delighted to hear that, and will hope to see Tonali return to Tyneside a little earlier – and fresher – than first thought.
Tonali was exceptional against Athletic Club last week, and Howe will expect a similar display against City with the benefit of more time to recharge his batteries.