The Italian star will not be inolved against Sunderland as he arrives in casual clothes
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Sandro Tonali arrived at St James' Park on Tyne-Wear derby day after sustaining a groin injury at the Nou Camp - but it soon became obvious he would not play.
Eddie Howe had indicated that Tonali would be assessed before the clash with Sunderland after limping off in Spain. Tonali was indeed looked at before the game but arrived at the stadium wearing casual clothes and was not wearing a club traksuit like the rest of his team-mates.
After undergoing a scan, the injury is not as bad as first feared, but he is not ready to face the Wearsiders.
Howe, speaking at his pre-game Press conference ahead of the battle with the Wearsiders, said: "We will wait and see. Hopefully not as bad as first feared. We will see how he is and make a decision."
Tonali's absence was soon confirmed by insiders before the clash with the Black Cats.
But the game will come too early for Bruno Guimaraes, the Brazilian skipper said in his programme notes before the game: “I really wish I could be helping the team on the pitch today. I’ll be supporting from the stands with you kicking every ball.”
There was a whisper before the game that Nick Woltemade would start against Sunderland. Howe had said before the game: "Every player wants to play the biggest games.
"Nick has had a lot of football this year, and I thought he played really well at Chelsea."
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