Sandro Tonali fired Italy ahead in Bergamo with a wonder goal to help send the Azzurri to a play-off shoot out
Italy's midfielder Sandro Tonali celebrates scoring against Northern Ireland
Italy's midfielder Sandro Tonali celebrates scoring against Northern Ireland
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Sandro Tonali wanted to play in Newcastle United's clash with Sunderland at St James' Park but was ordered to rest by club medics.
It is believed that Tonali made his desire to be involved in the Tyne-Wear clash clear to staff but was advised to spectate after concerns over his hip.
The Magpies ran the rule over the Italian midfielder, who was touch and go for the Tyne-Wear derby, but he just missed out. Tonali then flew to his home country for preparations for last night's World Cup play-off with Northern Ireland and was assessed by national team doctors, then passed fit for the encounter in Bergamo, with the ex-AC Milan man scoring in a 2-0 win.
Tonali came off with the job done at 2-0 with eight minutes left and will now play his part in Italy's winner takes all play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina away to win the right for a place in Group B to join Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in next summer's World Cup no the US, Canada and Qatar.
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Speaking after the game, Tonali said: "We played a very physical side that relied a lot on second balls. There was a bit of tension at the start, but then we relaxed a bit after going ahead. We did well to make the most of our chances"
Tonali had gone off injured at the Nou Camp after getting the green light last week during the Champions League duel. The former Brescia player had gone into the game on the back of an illness which cost him a place in the side that beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Howe had said in the build-up to the 2-1 loss to the Wearsiders: "We will wait and see (on Tonali). It is maybe not as bad as first feared as he was coming off the pitch. We will see how he is today and then make a decision closer to the game."
Tonali is very much deemed one of the leaders of the team with Italy these days and was always going to be patched up and thrown into a game of such magnitude with so much on the line.
Afterwards, he paid tribute to his national team coach and said: "We need to stay positive from now on, but we always have been since coach Gattuso arrived.
"We've seen some monsters this week; think back to what Italy has done in recent years, we were scared, then we freed ourselves."
Tonali has been the subject of much transfer speculation over the last 24 hours, with club sources denying that he has an agreement to leave the club if the Magpies fail to qualify for Europe, while Manchester United are reported to have made him their No 1 target this summer.
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