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Newcastle have changed their plan for Sandro Tonali after what’s happened this season
Since returning from his ban, Sandro Tonali has featured in all eight of Newcastle United’s Premier League games he’s been available for.
In fact, Edide Howe started Tonali four games in a row prior to Newcastle’s 1-0 win against Arsenal.
The Italian was subbed just after the hour mark in defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea in the league, before then playing a key role in the EFL Cup win over the same opposition.
However, against Arsenal, Howe opted to drop Tonali to the bench in favour of Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock – a decision that paid dividends.
Tonali’s start at Newcastle has obviously been very stop, start, but there are now question marks over how he fits into Howe’s plans long-term.
Newcastle change Sandro Tonali plan after Bruno Guimaraes stays put
That being said, journalist Chris Waugh just responded to a question to that end in a Q&A for .
Waugh shared his insight on the Bruno Guimaraes and Tonali ‘conundrum’ with some Newcastle fans perceiving that both don’t fit in the same team.
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The journalist concluded that Newcastle’s plan for Tonali has changed with time, given it no longer seems as if Guimaraes is leaving in the near future.
Waugh said: “When Newcastle signed Tonali, they did so because they wanted a midfielder who could play (almost) equally as well at No 6 and No 8. It is rare that players can do that, certainly at Premier League level.
“The Italian was seen as a player who could both complement Guimaraes as well as step in for him, given that Howe spent the 2022-23 campaign constantly worried the Brazilian would get injured.
“There was, however, also a begrudging acceptance that Guimaraes was likely to depart Tyneside within 12 to 24 months of Tonali arriving.
“That has not come to pass, much to Howe’s delight, but it also means that Tonali is no longer a longer-term replacement for Guimaraes, but someone who needs to fit into the side alongside him.
“So far, when he has started as a No 8 and Guimaraes as a No 6, Newcastle have not quite looked right.”
Eddie Howe desperately needs Paul Mitchell to produce in January
Whilst Newcastle are well-stocked in the middle, the same can’t be said in wide-attacking positions.
Deploying Joelinton as a left-winger against Arsenal was a game-specific plan, one that worked well.
However, across the season, Newcastle have been crying out for a new right-winger, someone like Michael Olise who went to Bayern Munich instead.
In fact, say it quietly, but Yankuba Minteh would also look pretty handy out wide right now if he wasn’t collateral in a late PSR firesale.
That being said, Newcastle are scouting one star forward ahead of the January, someone who could perhaps replace Callum Wilson.