Banned Tonali set to play against at Wolves
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has revealed there is a “high chance” Sandro Tonali could be involved in Saturday’s Premier League fixture at Newcastle despite being handed a 10-month ban.
The Italian football federation announced on Thursday that 23-year-old Italy international had been suspended until next season following an investigation into illegal betting, although the sanction is yet to be ratified by governing bodies Uefa and Fifa.
Asked for his reaction on Friday morning, Howe said: “It’s a difficult one because we haven’t had official confirmation as a football club yet. We’ve heard the news, the statement, but we haven’t had anything from the Italian authorities at the moment, so we’re in limbo, really, waiting for that official confirmation to come through.”
Asked further if there was a chance he could yet play at Wolves, Howe added: “Yes, I think there’s a high chance again that he could be available for us. I still think there are a few things that have to happen before the ban is imposed, so let’s see.”
Key events
And with that, I’ll hand you over to Morgan Ofori for more weekend build-up. I’m sure he’ll bring you something more exciting than my last two posts about kick-off times.
Talking of slightly kooky kick-off times, Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford gets underway at 3.30pm UK. Yes! And if that’s not confusing enough, don’t forget that the clocks go back on Saturday night. Or is it forward? Erm, what’s that thing for remembering which. Fall back? Hang on, what if you fall forward? Both are possible. Maybe best google it.
Anyway, here’s a stat to amuse and delight. Which visiting manager has the most Premier League wins at Old Trafford? Of course it is. Good effort from Roy though.
4 Pep Guardiola
3 Arsene Wenger, Gerard Houllier, Roy Hodgson
It’s el clásico weekend in Spain, with Barcelona hosting Real Madrid at the slightly strange time of 3.15pm UK on Saturday.
Marca have predicted the Real side and believe that Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric will be on the bench.
Some rousing words here from Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom as he takes his winless side to unbeaten Arsenal at the weekend. Let’s hope none of his players are reading this week’s Opta stats.
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Arsenal are unbeaten in 18 home meetings with Sheffield United in all competitions since a 1-0 top-flight defeat in August 1971.
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Arsenal are unbeaten in 36 Premier League home games against promoted sides (W31 D5)
Whatever. Here’s Hecky…
In terms of the challenge, we have to relish it. When you’re playing, you can’t always see these moments as opportunities, but they are. You’ve got to enjoy going to the toughest place and putting in a performance.
These are the games that can kick-start people’s careers and really establish them, so someone’s career, someone’s rise to success, someone’s whatever it is that gets them to the top level has to start somewhere and it’s getting that mindset into players. We shouldn’t fear going there. We should accept how tough it’s going to be and what level of performance we have to put in to get points.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has given a fitness update on two of his players who were taken off in the 1-0 home Champions League loss to Dortmund on Wednesday. Striker Alexander Isak aggravated a groin injury while midfielder Jacob Murphy suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Alex is a groin which we don’t think is serious, but it’s a recurrence of the groin he suffered when he was playing for Sweden, so we need to assess that. I think he’s having a scan today. We don’t anticipate that’s going to be too bad.
Jacob’s is totally different, it’s a dislocation of his shoulder. It’s not clear what we’re going to do. I think he’s going to see a specialist today. You can play with these injuries, or the other side of it, he needs an operation and he’ll be out for some time.
England’s Women have a Nations League double header coming up against Belgium, starting with tonight’s 7.45pm BST kick-off at the King Power Stadium. Suzanne Wrack analyses the task facing Sarina Wiegman’s side.
There are lots of things to look out for in the Premier League this weekend but here’s 10 of them, including one about Mo Salah.
No player has been involved in more Premier League goals in 2023 than the Egypt international, who has scored 19 and assisted 12. Should he score against Nottingham Forest, Salah will become only the third player to score in each of Liverpool’s opening five home league games of a season. The others are Harry Chambers in 1922 and John Aldridge in 1987.
By the way, Salah looked thoroughly delighted to have crashed one in off the bar after coming on as a late sub against Toulouse last night. Surely playing in this revamped Liverpool team is miles more fun than jogging about in front of 650-odd fans in Saudi Arabia. Maybe a move there next summer isn’t inevitable.
And, if you missed it, there was another Scouse sacking last night as Bristol Rovers showed Joey Barton the door marked ‘do one’.
Barton wrote on Twitter/X: “What a journey we have been on as a club … we created some amazing memories, achieving promotion and that 7-0 victory are days my family and I will never forget.”
It’s not going so well for former Liverpool players in Saudi Arabia. Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson’s Al-Ettifaq slumped to defeat against Al-Riyadh in front of fewer than 700 fans last weekend and now Saudi second-tier club Al-Qadsiah have given Robbie Fowler the boot as manager.
It would have been funnier had it been José Mourinho’s Roma but this is still kind of amusing and should be doing the rounds in Newcastle pubs.
West Ham’s pretty remarkable run in Europe ended as they went down 2-1 to Olympiakos in Greece. Lucas Paquetá pulled one back late on but couldn’t stop the Hammers suffering a first loss in continental competition in 18 matches.
And there’s more. A round-up of the rest of Thursday’s action here.
You’re the one for me, Fati. Brighton, thanks to goals from João Pedro and on-loan Barcelona star Ansu Fati, grabbed their first victory in Europe by schooling Ajax 2-0 in the Europa League last night.
Let’s catch up with some Europa League from last night, starting with Liverpool’s 5-1 romp against Toulouse at Anfield where Darwin Núñez was a bundle of fun again and Ryan Gravenberch left Bayern fans wondering why on earth their club flogged him for just £35m.
Banned Tonali set to play against at Wolves
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has revealed there is a “high chance” Sandro Tonali could be involved in Saturday’s Premier League fixture at Newcastle despite being handed a 10-month ban.
The Italian football federation announced on Thursday that 23-year-old Italy international had been suspended until next season following an investigation into illegal betting, although the sanction is yet to be ratified by governing bodies Uefa and Fifa.
Asked for his reaction on Friday morning, Howe said: “It’s a difficult one because we haven’t had official confirmation as a football club yet. We’ve heard the news, the statement, but we haven’t had anything from the Italian authorities at the moment, so we’re in limbo, really, waiting for that official confirmation to come through.”
Asked further if there was a chance he could yet play at Wolves, Howe added: “Yes, I think there’s a high chance again that he could be available for us. I still think there are a few things that have to happen before the ban is imposed, so let’s see.”
Preamble
A day off? I don’t think so. Hot on the heels of Thursday night’s Europa League action, the Premier League weekend kicks off tonight at Selhurst Park. And, check this, if Tottenham win – something they’ve managed in 13 of their last 16 top-flight games against Crystal Palace – they go top of the table by 5 (five) points! Ange-tastic!
The weekend concludes with a Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon and there’s plenty of good stuff inbetween. We’ll have team news, manager press conferences and lots more. Read on!
