‘So naturally gifted’ - Newcastle United ‘wildcard’ named among Premier League’s best
Former Watford striker Troy Deeney has named Newcastle United maestro Sandro Tonali in his Premier League team of the week.
Eddie Howe caved into public demand by starting the Italian in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City. Toon fans had been eagerly calling for Tonali to feature, with his comeback from a 10-month ban for breaching betting regulations restricted to cup and substitute appearances.
Any fears about the midfielder returning as a diminished player evaporated as Tonali held his own against City’s engine room. On the ball, he oozed continental class but he combined that with English grit - and looked visibly shattered when hooked after 77 minutes.
Newcastle were robbed of the Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Tonali combination last season but unleashed the trio on Man City at the weekend. Howe confirmed the 24-year-old had cramp which may rule him out for tonight’s clash with AFC Wimbledon but he did not suffer a long-term setback.
Ex-top-flight striker Deeney hailed Tonali as “so naturally gifted” when naming him in his BBC Sport team of the week. The Toon ace was picked alongside Micky van de Ven, Antoine Semenyo and Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer.
“I’m going for a little wildcard here,” he wrote in his weekly column. “I think he’s one of those people who’s obviously made a mistake, but he’s so naturally gifted as an athlete he’s been able to come back into the Newcastle side like he hasn’t left.
“I know he’s had a couple of games off the bench, but he covered a lot of ground, he got after the Manchester City players and made sure Newcastle were on the front foot.”