A Newcastle United player with heart
Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali made a big statement on the pitch after transfer speculation linking him with a return to Italy was dismissed.
Many years ago, I asked Chris Hughton about a particular player’s future at Newcastle United.
Hughton, one of the most likeable managers I have dealt with as a reporter covering the club, was not about to give anything away – on or off the record.
“Off the record, there will be speculation,” said Hughton with a smile.
And that’s the thing. There will always be speculation about good players. It is part and parcel of the game.
It should not surprise us that there has been speculation in Italy about a return to the country for Sandro Tonali given his form for club and country since returning from a long ban for breaches of betting rules.
Tonali will no doubt return to Italy and Serie A at some point in his career, but that time is not now.
The 24-year-old’s representatives last week dismissed talk of a transfer in a statement.
It read: “Sandro is not considering a return to Serie A. He's happy at Newcastle, happy to play in the best league in the world and is an idol for Newcastle fans who've always supported him."
This week, the former AC Milan midfielder made a statement on the pitch.
Before his suspension ended, Tonali made a statement the other side of the world.
Speaking in a wedding venue in Tokyo, Japan, Tonali made a vow of his own in a room filled with Newcastle supporters.
At the time I wrote that it “felt like a big moment, even though it wasn’t on a football pitch”.
After 10 months in the shadows at Newcastle United, Tonali stepped on to centre stage in Japan.
The midfielder, set to return from his betting suspension later this month, addressed a room full of fans at a supporter engagement event in Tokyo which was attended by Darren Eales, the club’s chief executive officer.
What was said in the room, normally a wedding and party venue, will stay in the room.
But Tonali spoke well when he took the microphone, and it’s clear he’s treating this season as a new start on the pitch after a challenging year off the field.
I was reminded of what Darren Eales – who was in the room as Tonali spoke on stage – said about Tonali and his imminent return by his latest appearance for the club.
Speaking in August Newcastle's chief executive officer said: “He just spoke from the heart. You got a sense of what Sandro Tonali is as a player.
“We know he's a fantastic player. He works his socks off in training, which is difficult when you're not playing games.
“It's a cliche, but he's going to be genuinely like a new signing, because this is his chance to launch his Newcastle United career. It's exciting for him.”
Tonali did speak from the heart. What is more, he has played with his heart and his head since returning in late August – and he has also excited supporters.
It is also worth reminding ourselves that Tonali missed 10 months of competitive football.
Managing his return to action from such a long spell out was always going to be a challenge, but the club have seamlessly integrated him back into the team without any major injury problems.
Eddie Howe and the club’s backroom team deserve credit for his reintegration.
Gesture to fans
Howe, United’s head coach, has used Tonali has a deeper midfielder of late, though that role has not stopped him getting forward.
And last night Tonali scored two superb goals as Newcastle beat Brentford 3-1 to book a place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
The first goal was a first-time shot struck from almost 25 yards after a ball into the box was cleared to him. It reminded me of a stunning goal from Paul Bracewell against Southend United at the same end of St James’ Park at the start of the 1992/93 season.
Tonali’s second strike was a well-placed volley from a corner, but it was not just his goals which caught the eye in the cup tie.
The Italy international, combining well with Bruno Guimaraes in midfield, moved the ball quickly and intelligently with one or two touches, and also worked hard to get it back when his team was out of possession.
And then there was his celebration of his first goal.
Tonali, mobbed by team-mates, made a heart gesture towards fans at the Leazes end of the stadium after scoring his first club goal in more than 16 months.
It was another important statement from Tonali, a player with heart who is loved by fans on Tyneside.