Sandro Tonali 'very apologetic' after Newcastle blow that is 'difficult to take'

Sandro Tonali has found not being there for his team-mates 'difficult to take' after the suspended Newcastle United midfielder was charged with further betting offences.

Tonali is already serving a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules during his time in Italy and won't play again until August. Tonali has since been hit by a misconduct charge by the FA this week.

The FA allege that Tonali placed 50 bets on matches between August 12 and October 12, 2023 during his time as a Newcastle player. Tonali has until next Friday to respond and Newcastle hope that the Italy international will be handed a concurrent ban rather than an extended suspension.

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An independent commission will ultimately decide that and Eddie Howe said that 'throwing the book' at Tonali would not get to the root of the problem after the summer signing 'suffered' on the sidelines.

"Only Sandro will truly know how he's felt at certain times," the Newcastle boss told reporters. "It's been difficult for him to train every day knowing that he's not playing at the weekend. There have been lots of different emotions.

"You have got to remember he will be feeling with every injury and problem we have had in midfield that he should be there for his team-mates and he's not. He will be feeling that responsibility and that feeling, and that's very difficult for him to take.

"He's had to then return to training every day and front that up. He's handled himself so well in those moments and kept his training level very high for the group. From my side, I've seen a player that's really strong and will come out better for this experience."

Tonali's agent, Giuseppe Riso, has previously declared that his client is 'playing the most important game of his life against gambling addiction'. Tonai has 'sought help', in the words of Howe, and has attended meetings both in this country and in his homeland.

The Big Step campaign, as part of the Gambling With Lives charity, said players 'deserve empathy and support not lengthy' bans if they have issues with betting. The campaign likened an addict playing in today's game, which is 'wall to wall with gambling ads', to sending an alcoholic to 'work in a pub' and Howe added it was a 'real issue that needs discussing'.

"Sandro has an illness," he said. "If this was associated with another form of illness, I think there would be a lot more sympathy and understanding.

"That illness did not stop the minute he moved to England. That illness was still there. It was only when everything that had happened - instantly he was very apologetic and sorry for what he had done - that he needed help. We have tried, along with Sandro’s representatives and his family, to get him the help that he needs to recover from this."

Newcastle did not know about Tonali's issues before signing the midfielder from AC Milan, which prompted an internal club review. Howe, for his part, reiterated that when 'someone has something they want to hide', even from their 'closest family', there was 'no way' Newcastle could have known before spending £52m on the Italy international.

Howe said it has been 'frustrating beyond belief' to be unable to call upon Tonali since October because the 23-year-old is the 'player we've needed', but the Newcastle boss has still been encouraged by what he has seen behind the scenes.

"I have to say, mentally, he's been very good in his training sessions," he added. "He's been very good off the pitch. He's been a brilliant team-mate to the people here and supporting team-mates and training really well to set a positive example.

“His English has improved a lot as well, which has been great. He can communicate now really well with his team-mates, which is such an important thing. I'm really positive about his comeback, whenever that is, that he'll have a huge impact on the team."