This was Sandro Tonali back to his best for Newcastle. And it came at United's time of need.
Less than 24 hours after the revelation that the Magpies had been rocked by the news that Bruno Guimares is facing two months on the sidelines, meaning Howe could be without his captain for as many as 10 games, Tonali stepped up.
Newcastle need a talisman in the absence of their inspirational skipper. Here was extremely encouraging evidence that Tonali can put a difficult season and a challenging few weeks behind him and step forward.
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The Italian cancelled out Tammy Abraham's first half opener with the crucial leveller that paved the way for Newcastle's come from behind FA Cup victory at Aston Villa and then lashed home the brilliant second goal 13 minutes later.
He celebrated in front of the 6,000 Geordies in the Villa Park away end then turned and headed alone for the dugout on the opposite side of the pitch, embracing his waiting head coach in a hug, a moment that felt hugely significant on the back of events of the last fortnight or so. After the show of class came the show of commitment.
“We’ve got a great relationship,” said Howe.
“There’s a healthy respect between us."
Howe sat down with Tonali on deadline day after those surprise Arsenal links and reports emerged. The midfielder was obviously never going to leave in January but it raised concerns among a fanbase still understandably hurting from the Alexander Isak furore as to what the summer might look like. Public comments from his agent haven't helped.
Tonali can do his talking on the pitch but his performances this season have hardly silenced the noise surrounding his future. He's looked a shadow of the player he was last term. Until Saturday.
“He’s a wonderful talent,” said Newcastle legend Alan Shearer on BBC on Saturday night.
“He perhaps hasn’t been at his brilliant best this season but I’m just hoping that this is the start of what we saw last season, where he was running the midfield.”
At Villa Park, he scored with his two shots on goal, he won all of his tackles and duels and had a 77% pass success rate. But those who watch Newcastle regularly won't look at stats but trust their eyes. This was the Tonali Geordies fell in love with: destructive and dominant, the tone-setter and match-winner.
“I’m very grateful for how Sandro’s committed to everything I’ve asked him to do," said Howe.
"I think he’s grateful that we’ve backed him in every sense and continue to want to see him flourish and play his very best football here.”
“The only way Sandro can answer any questions about his performances is on the pitch. He responded really well.
“We needed players to step up in Bruno’s absence. We needed the creativity gap that Bruno will leave filled. We needed the passion that Bruno shows on the pitch filled. I thought all three midfielders did that.
“All our midfield contributed massively. We’re going to need that during Bruno’s absence.”
Newcastle are expected to soon be boosted by the return of Joelinton and Lewis Miley, which will aid their cause in Bruno's absence, but Jacob Ramsey deserves to keep his place in the side.
After a slow start to life on Tyneside, he's now looking at home in black and white and delivered another fine performance on Saturday against the side he left in the summer. He got a good reception from the home supporters when he was replaced in the second half but what will matter more to the midfielder is the fact he was serenaded by impressed Newcastle fans. And alongside Tonali and Ramsey, Nick Woltemade was excellent in a deeper role, a big call from Howe paying off handsomely. Woltemade deserved his goal in the last minute to seal the victory and it should do the German the world of good.
How different things feel to this time last week after Newcastle had been booed off against Brentford and Howe faced questions on his future. The future looks a lot brighter now, the Magpies still fighting on three fronts. They're in the last 16 of the FA Cup and should reach the same stage of the Champions League. This has been an extremely challenging season but it's a season that's very much alive.
Howe and his players deserve immense credit. The head coach made some big calls against Tottenham and Aston Villa and they paid off. And his players delivered under pressure and at a time of need. Nobody more so than Tonali on Saturday.