Sandro Tonali’s Newcastle Spot Under Threat as Eddie Howe Considers Midfield Changes
Just three months ago, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes hailed Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali as the Premier League’s best midfielder, tipping him over Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo. However, since then, Tonali’s form has dipped. A minor injury, a bout of illness, and the recent birth of his first child may have affected his momentum. Despite featuring regularly, he hasn’t been the dominant presence in Newcastle’s midfield that fans have come to expect.
This was evident in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, when Howe withdrew Tonali for Jacob Ramsey with the game still 0-0, instead of substituting Bruno Guimarães or Joelinton. Similarly, on Wednesday, Tonali was replaced at half-time to allow Lewis Miley to shift into midfield after starting at right-back. These decisions hint that Tonali’s place in the starting XI is no longer guaranteed.
Newcastle’s second goal on Wednesday also underscored the team’s ability to perform without Tonali at full strength. Miley played a crucial role, keeping the ball in play and assisting Guimarães to set up Joelinton’s header. The trio’s brief combination showed the midfield’s potential, but with Miley’s consistent form across multiple positions, he could now be a first-choice starter—putting Tonali’s spot at risk.
Meanwhile, Guimarães has continued his stellar run, scoring in Newcastle’s three successive Premier League wins, and Joelinton has rediscovered his scoring touch since returning from injury. With both performing strongly, Tonali’s hold on Newcastle’s midfield has become far from certain for the first time in a long while.
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