Newcastle fans may be left frustrated as Tonali recovers in time for international duty after sitting out key Tyne-Wear clash through injury
Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been handed a surprise call-up to the Italy national team for their crunch World Cup playoff(s), just days after missing the club’s biggest fixture of the season through injury.
The 25-year-old was absent from Newcastle’s 1-2 defeat to Sunderland at St James’ Park on Sunday – a result that stung deeply in the Tyne-Wear derby. Tonali’s absence was felt in midfield, with the Italian’s quality and work rate a key part of Eddie Howe‘s side.
The injury had been sustained during Newcastle’s heavy 7-2 defeat to FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the Champions League, raising immediate concerns over his availability for both club and country.
Speaking prior to the derby, Howe had struck a cautious tone regarding Tonali’s fitness.
“We will wait and see,” Howe told reporters. “Hopefully not as bad as first feared. We will see how he is and make a decision.”
Ultimately, the decision was made to leave Tonali out of the squad entirely for the Sunderland clash – a call that underlined the perceived seriousness of the issue at the time.
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Italy return raises eyebrows
However, developments since have taken many by surprise. Tonali has now linked up with the Italy national team, suggesting his injury may not have been as severe as initially thought. The Azzurri face Northern Ireland on Thursday, before potentially taking on Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina for a place in the World Cup.
That turnaround has not gone unnoticed, particularly among Newcastle supporters who had hoped to see one of their key midfielders involved in such a crucial derby fixture.
Granted, Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso stated in his pre-match press conference that Tonali was still unable to fully train with the rest of his teammates: “Tonali will train with a low workload today,” said Gattuso.
But the timing is awkward, especially as Tonali’s commitment has already come under scrutiny in recent weeks following speculation about his future. Recent reports have linked him with a potential summer move to Manchester United, while earlier rumours also suggested interest from Arsenal.
Those links, reportedly fuelled in part by his representatives, have created a sense of unease among sections of the fanbase, and this latest development is unlikely to ease those concerns.
From a purely footballing perspective, Newcastle will be hoping the midfielder returns from international duty fully fit and ready for the run-in. But missing the local derby only to reappear for his national side days later risks leaving a sour taste.
