Sports
Tonali Set for Newcastle Return as Ban Ends – Howe Confirms
Sandro Tonali is poised to make his return for Newcastle United after completing a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules, a development that manager Eddie Howe described as an “incredible release” for the 23-year-old midfielder.
Tonali, who joined Newcastle from AC Milan last summer in a £55 million move, was handed the ban by the Italian Football Federation in October for his involvement in betting activities while playing in Serie A. With his suspension set to expire on Tuesday, Tonali is now eligible to feature in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup clash against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
“He will definitely be in the squad,” confirmed Howe. “He’s fit, he just hasn’t had the match [practice] – the most important thing is the game time. He has done everything else and has worked incredibly hard to be on top of his fitness.”
Before his suspension, Tonali made 12 appearances for Newcastle, showcasing why he was the club’s second most expensive signing. Howe acknowledged that Tonali is likely to experience a mix of emotions on his return but emphasized the importance of allowing him to ease back into his role.
“I imagine a range of emotions, a lot of excitement,” Howe said. “When you have a long time out, you have a long time to analyze and reflect. Now it is just back to doing what he loves. It will be an incredible release for him.”
Howe also noted that Tonali will be under intense scrutiny upon his return, but expressed confidence that the player understands the situation and is ready to take small steps to reintegrate into the team.
“He has to play to his strengths and not do anything too out of the ordinary,” Howe added.
Sports
Jack Draper Advances to Japan Open Last 16 with Win Over Bellucci
British tennis player Jack Draper has secured a spot in the Japan Open last 16 after defeating Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in straight sets. Draper, ranked world number 20, claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory, marking his first win since his US Open semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner earlier this month.
The 22-year-old’s triumph in Tokyo comes as a welcome return to form following a challenging Davis Cup in Manchester, where he lost both of his singles matches to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, contributing to Great Britain’s failure to reach the knockout stages.
After a tightly contested first set against world number 103 Bellucci, Draper dominated the second set, building a 5-1 lead before closing out the match. He will face Polish second seed Hubert Hurkacz in the next round on Friday.
Sports
Wolves Defender Yerson Mosquera Likely Out for Season with Knee Injury
Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Yerson Mosquera is expected to miss the remainder of the season following a serious knee injury sustained in Wolves’ 3-1 loss to Aston Villa. The 23-year-old Colombian twisted his knee after a collision with Villa’s Morgan Rogers in the 82nd minute and was stretchered off the pitch.
Scans confirmed that Mosquera suffered damage to both the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which will require surgery. Wolves’ head of high performance, Phil Hayward, said, “We will be visiting specialists to finalise the plan for surgery, and it’s highly unlikely he will feature again this season.”
Mosquera had been a key part of Wolves’ defense this season, starting all five Premier League games after returning from a loan spell at Villarreal. His absence further deepens Wolves’ defensive issues, as they did not secure a replacement for Max Kilman following his £40m move to West Ham.
Wolves, currently winless and sitting at the bottom of the Premier League, face Liverpool at home in their next match.
Sports
Ex-Real Madrid & Manchester United Defender Raphael Varane Retires at 31
Raphael Varane, former defender for Real Madrid, Manchester United, and the French national team, has retired from professional football at the age of 31. Varane, who joined Italian side Como in July, sustained a knee injury on his debut, prompting his decision to step away from playing. He will remain at Como in a non-playing capacity.
In an emotional Instagram post, Varane wrote, “It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct,” explaining his desire to leave the sport on his own terms.
Varane began his career at Lens before a decade-long stint at Real Madrid, where he won 18 major trophies, including three La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns. He later joined Manchester United in 2021, making 95 appearances and winning the Carabao Cup in 2022.
Internationally, Varane earned 93 caps for France, winning the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League. Reflecting on his career, Varane expressed pride in both his achievements and staying true to his values.
He hinted at future projects with Como, adding, “Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon.” Varane has also been vocal about the dangers of head injuries in football, having played through concussions during his career, and he has called for better protection for players.
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