Sandro Tonail is anticipated to attend tonight’s match to support his Newcastle United teammates facing his former Milan colleagues in a significant Champions League encounter. Despite his suspension since October, Tonali has been actively training with Newcastle’s first team and regularly watching their recent matches from the stands. According to The Athletic, Tonali is now slated to watch the game from the director’s box and is likely to continue doing so until his suspension concludes in August.
Tonali’s extended 10-month ban has compounded Eddie Howe’s challenges amid Newcastle’s ongoing injury crisis, with double-figure player unavailability this season. Despite this setback, Tonali remains an integral part of the team, benefiting from permission to train with the first team, enabling him to maintain fitness and foster connections with his relatively new teammates.
Newcastle is compelled to explore the January transfer market for a temporary replacement for the Italian midfielder. Although Tonali won’t be back on the field for another eight months, he is eager to participate in tonight’s game against Milan and face his former friends.
The clash with Milan is of immense significance for Newcastle, resembling a cup final in terms of intensity. While the outcome is not entirely within their control, Newcastle is determined to secure a spot in the Champions League knockout rounds. If PSG fails to win against Dortmund, both Newcastle and Milan have an opportunity to qualify with a victory.
In the previous leg, Milan dominated, but Nick Pope’s outstanding performance, unfortunately unavailable tonight due to injury, thwarted their efforts. Tonali, sidelined during such crucial encounters, is undoubtedly disappointed not to contribute, and Newcastle could greatly benefit from his presence in the midfield battle, especially considering the potential start for 17-year-old Lewis Miley in his seventh consecutive game.
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