Newcastle United is now aware of the duration of Sandro Tonali’s betting ban.
The 23-year-old will serve a 10-month suspension, it was confirmed on Thursday, following an Italian Football Federation investigation into his betting activities.
Eddie Howe will be greatly aided by Sandro Tonali’s ability to continue training with Newcastle and participating in friendlies while serving his ban.
However, the manager of Newcastle now faces the terrible possibility of losing his star summer signing for the remainder of the campaign. It is even harder to take when you consider that Harvey Barnes won’t be able to play until the following year.
Though Tonali already knows he has the complete support of the team and the supporters, it will be an extremely tough time for him. It appeared that the match against Crystal Palace would be his last before his ban, and he was met with a fantastic ovation.
He did, however, have the opportunity to play from the bench in the Champions League loss to Borussia Dortmund.
Rather, it appears that will be Tonali’s final game; although, there is a very remote possibility that he will play on Saturday night against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Telegraph claims that FIFA has not yet expanded the ban to include all countries, so there’s a chance Tonali will be ready to play for Newcastle this weekend.
The report does, however, note that FIFA probably extended it in time to make sure he can’t play against Wolves at Molineux.
If Tonali is able to play on Saturday, it would be an enormous stroke of luck. Even if there is a remote chance, it does appear unlikely.
Eddie Howe will most likely stay with the midfield trio that began against Palace and Dortmund because Tonali is expected to miss
out. Joelinton, Sean Longstaff, and Bruno Guimaraes have started the Magpies’ last two games and are expected to do so in tandem.
Actually, Newcastle doesn’t have a lot of other possibilities. Tonali appears destined for a ban, and Elliot Anderson is sidelined due to a back ailment.
Joe Willock is the only other option available to the Magpies, but having only recently making a comeback from a protracted layoff, it is undoubtedly too early for him to be starting.
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