Sandro Tonali’s Newcastle Spot Under Threat Ahead of Carabao Cup Semi-Final
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali could be facing a major test of his place in the squad as Eddie Howe prepares his team for next week’s Carabao Cup semi-final.
Just three months ago, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes praised Tonali as the Premier League’s best midfielder, tipping him over Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo. But the Italian’s form has dipped sharply since then. A minor injury, a bout of illness, and the recent birth of his first child may have contributed to a loss of rhythm.
Even though Tonali has featured regularly in recent weeks, he hasn’t dominated the midfield as expected. This was evident in Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday, when Howe substituted Tonali for Jacob Ramsey with the game still goalless—over Bruno Guimarães or Joelinton. Similarly, on Wednesday, Tonali was withdrawn at half-time as Lewis Miley shifted into midfield after filling in at right-back.
These tactical choices suggest Tonali’s role in Newcastle’s strongest XI is no longer guaranteed. While Guimarães continues to impress, scoring in Newcastle’s three successive Premier League wins, and Joelinton has returned to form, Miley’s versatility and stellar performances across three positions make him an increasingly likely starter.
With Tonali’s midfield dominance in question, the Carabao Cup semi-final could be a pivotal moment for the Italian. Newcastle’s engine room has been performing without him at full throttle, and Howe may now have to consider reshaping his starting eleven—potentially leaving Tonali on the bench for the first time in a long while.
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