Arriving for €70 million from AC Milan this summer, Sandro Tonali had a promising start with Newcastle, like his goal against Aston Villa (5-1) on the first day of the Premier League, but seems since marking time. Left on the bench against Brentford, the 23-year-old disappointed during his reunion with the Lombard club in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. Guilty of several ball losses, the Transalpine delivered a mixed performance against the Milanese, especially since he was much less influential in recovery and in the construction of the game than his two partners in the midfield, Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff.
If the native of Lodi has suffered some criticism from the British press in recent hours, he can however count on the support of his trainer Eddie Howe. Asked about his player’s performance, the Magpies coach remains convinced that Sandro Tonali can bring a lot to a team which is having difficulty starting its season. “His performance against Aston Villa was of a high standard. I think it’s no surprise that this performance against Aston Villa came after he had been with us during pre-season. Since then, he has barely trained due to his international obligations. It’s difficult for a new player to integrate into a team. Like I said before, he’s an incredible personality. He is very stable and committed to the project here. I think it will grow over time. I want him to be himself. He is an outstanding technician, a very good athlete”declared the 45-year-old technician to the British tabloid, The Athletic.
