Tonali’s ‘tactical ability’ and ‘versatility’ please Newcastle coach Howe

Newcastle coach Eddie Howe praised Sandro Tonali’s ‘versatility’ on the pitch as the Italy international is proving able to adapt to different roles in midfield as his tasks mainly depend ‘on the game’.

The former Milan player has seen his playing time gradually increase since returning from a 10-month ban due to gambling in September, as his coach proved willing to quickly reintegrate him into the squad and give him the relevant role he was signed for in 2023.

Howe pleased with Tonali’s ‘tactical ability’

Tonali was deployed both as a number six and number eight in recent games, which led reporters to ask Howe what position best fits the Italians’ qualities.

“All options are open. Sandro [Tonali] can definitely play both positions, whether it be higher or lower, and that’s why we recruited him in a way, because he had that versatility,” the manager said at a press conference, as quoted by Chronicle Live.

“We didn’t want to sign one player for one position. We needed that flexibility, especially going into a Champions League season that we faced.

“With Sandro, it all depends on the game. Sometimes, your central player can be more involved. Other times, your higher players are more involved. I don’t think Sandro was necessarily heavily involved in our build-up phase on Wednesday, but I think he did a really good job of controlling space and making sure we were disciplined as a team defensively.

“He showed a really high level of tactical ability and understanding of that role, considering he hasn’t played it in a while. He can play both very well. I would not want to label him in any one role, and we need players who are adaptable.”

Tonali arguably made his best performance after his suspension in Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Chelsea in the EFL Cup last Wednesday, as he made an assist to set up Alexander Isak’s opener, which was also his first goal contribution this season.