When a club sells its most famous player for a British record fee, it is natural for there to be a sense of worry and uncertainty. For Newcastle United, the departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool was exactly that kind of moment.
The Swedish striker had been a phenomenal source of goals and a constant threat to every defense he faced. It felt like a major piece of the team’s identity was leaving, and many wondered how the team would possibly cope without his incredible talent.
Yet, football has a funny way of reminding us that a team is always more than just one player. In their first Premier League outing since that big transfer, Newcastle United did not just cope; they found a way to win.
And at the heart of that vital victory was a player who is quietly establishing himself as the true heartbeat of this team: Sandro Tonali.
While the final scoreline against Wolverhampton Wanderers might not be remembered as a classic performance, the influence of Tonali in the middle of the park was something that everyone inside St James’ Park will remember for a long time.
If you were to sit down and design the perfect midfielder for Eddie Howe’s intense, high-energy style of play, you would likely come up with a player who looks an awful lot like Sandro Tonali. He is a rare blend of technical brilliance and relentless, hard-working grit.
What truly sets him apart is his complete commitment to doing the unglamorous work that often goes unnoticed.
Against Wolves, he was absolutely everywhere on the pitch. Manager Eddie Howe himself said that Tonali seemed to cover every single blade of grass, constantly putting out fires whenever Wolves tried to launch a counter-attack.
His ability to read the game, to sense where the ball is going to land, and to get there first is a massive skill. It is a skill that does not always make the highlight reels, but it is priceless to his teammates and his manager.
Beyond his defensive work, his quality on the ball and his creative vision are what make him a complete player.
He nearly scored a spectacular goal himself and was the engine that drove Newcastle forward throughout the match.
His performance was a powerful reminder that while goalscorers often grab the headlines, the players who control the tempo and the intensity of the game are just as valuable, if not more so.
This 1-0 win felt like a massive result for the team, a moment to steady the ship and build some crucial momentum. The timing could not be better, with a monumental UEFA Champions League clash against Spanish giants Barcelona just a few days away.
Everyone knows the team will need to perform at a much higher level to compete with a side of that quality, but this win provides a solid foundation of confidence.
There was another major positive to take from the match: the debut of new signing Nick Woltemade. Thrust into the starting lineup much earlier than anticipated due to an injury to Yoane Wissa, the young German striker handled the pressure with impressive composure.
His technical ability was clear from a few clever layoffs and link-up plays, but the moment that truly announced his arrival was a superb headed goal.
It was exactly the kind of instant impact that endears a new player to the fans and helps everyone start to believe that the team can move on after a major departure.
The performance was far from perfect. Wolves, who are at the bottom of the table, still caused plenty of problems and forced two excellent saves from goalkeeper Nick Pope in the opening minutes.
There is a mountain of improvement needed if Newcastle wants to achieve all of its ambitious goals for this season. But the important thing is that they found a way to win.
With Sandro Tonali leading the way with his Rolls Royce performance and a new striker getting off to a dream start, the new era at Newcastle United, post-Isak, is officially up and running.
