Sandro Tonali blow ahead of Newcastle Premier League clash vs Manchester City

Newcastle United’s postponed Carabao Cup tie against AFC Wimbledon has disrupted key players’ chances to gain crucial match fitness.

Originally set for Tuesday night, the fixture was called off less than 36 hours before kick-off due to severe flooding that created a sinkhole on the Plough Lane pitch. The game will now take place at St James’ Park on October 1.

While the delay allows Newcastle additional time to prepare for their upcoming Premier League match against Manchester City, it has disappointed some players who were looking forward to staking a claim for a starting spot.

Eddie Howe had planned to rotate his squad for the trip to South London, giving opportunities to players like Emil Krafth, Sean Longstaff, Sandro Tonali, Miguel Almirón, and Will Osula.

For Sandro Tonali in particular, this match was seen as a critical chance to regain momentum. His last start for Newcastle came in the previous Carabao Cup round against Nottingham Forest, which coincided with the expiration of his 10-month ban for breaching betting regulations.

Since then, Tonali has only made substitute appearances in the Premier League, coming off the bench in games against Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Fulham.

The Magpies’ fanbase had initially accepted the gradual reintroduction of Tonali into the team. However, frustrations grew when the 24-year-old played full matches for Italy during the recent international break.

Tonali impressed onlookers with back-to-back performances against France and Israel, even assisting Federico Dimarco’s goal in Paris.

Despite these strong showings, he was left on the bench for Newcastle’s league match against Wolves but entered at halftime, helping spark a comeback as the team overturned a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1.

While Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock earned starting spots against Fulham the following weekend, Tonali only featured as a late substitute in the 75th minute.

Eddie Howe defended his cautious approach, stating that Tonali’s return to the starting lineup needed to be carefully timed. “There is no doubting Sandro’s quality but as I’ve said I’ve got to introduce him at the right time for everyone,” Howe remarked. “I’m Sandro’s biggest supporter as well but I can only judge what I see.” He also admitted that Tonali’s impact after coming on at Fulham wasn’t as strong as expected, as Newcastle struggled to make a difference during the latter stages of the game.

Howe had hoped to give Tonali a full runout against AFC Wimbledon, a match that would have allowed the Italian to prove his fitness and readiness ahead of the high-stakes clash with Manchester City.

Now, with the postponement of the Wimbledon tie, Tonali’s chances of breaking into the starting XI for the City game appear slimmer.

His best hope of securing a spot in the lineup may rest on his performances in training over the next few days. As the Magpies prepare for one of their toughest matches of the season, Tonali will need to show Howe that he’s ready to step up and make an impact on the pitch.

While the delay in the Carabao Cup game offers some relief for Newcastle in terms of avoiding fixture congestion, it deprives players like Tonali of valuable game time that could have helped them hit their stride ahead of facing the Premier League champions.

However, the Italian midfielder will remain determined to prove his worth, whether through training or in future matches, as he seeks to establish himself as a key figure in Howe’s plans.

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