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.