Sandro Tonali 'spotted' in Newcastle United away end celebrating win at Blackburn Rovers

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.  (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.  (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sandro Tonali joined Newcastle United from AC Milan for £52million last summer.

Sandro Tonali joined in Newcastle United fans' celebrations after their side's 4-3 penalty shootout win over Blackburn Rovers in the fifth round of FA Cup.

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More than 7,000 Geordies made the visit to Ewood Park and they didn't leave the stadium until close to 11pm after the Championship outfit took United all the way to spot-kicks.

Anthony Gordon handed the Magpies the advantage in the 71st minute but it didn't take long for the hosts to hit back through Sammie Szmodics. It forced half an hour of extra time and while both teams had chances to snatch a winner, the game went to penalties and Martin Dubravka emerged as the hero denying - both Szmodics and Dominic Hyam.

There was an air of relief at the final whistle as the Newcastle players sprinted from the halfway line to congratulate their Slovakian shotstopper. The United fans also got heavily involved in the celebrations after witnessing United advance into the last eight of the competition for only the second time in 18 years.

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Footage from supporters showing the scenes at the full-time whistle did the rounds on social media with Tonali making a surprise appearance. No, he wasn't inside the actual stadium... instead he was captured by TheVocalHero on FaceTime!

Tonali can't play until August following his ban from football but chants of terraces, i.e 'Sandro Ole, Ole, Ole' already suggest he has become a cult hero.

Speaking about Tonali last week, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said: "He's very much like a normal player apart from the fact we can't pick him on a Saturday. Apart from that, he's doing everything. He's doing all the training.

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"His attitude has been absolutely brilliant. When you consider he's not got that carrot at the end of the week - he's not got that game - you wouldn't know it from his training performances.

"He's been very good for the other players that are playing. It's been frustrating seeing him because you know you're missing a top quality player. I would love to be able to use him at the moment, but I'm seeing some really good things from him."

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