Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali could be back in action in less than a fortnight.
The 24-year-old Italian international has been serving a 10-month ban handed down by the Italian Football Federation for breaching betting rules.
🇮🇹 We can announce that Sandro Tonali will return to selection on Wednesday, 28 August following the conclusion of his ten-month ban from competitive football pic.twitter.com/M50U0fkwOQ
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 15, 2024
In addition to the suspension, Tonali was fined nearly £17,500 for gambling on football matches during his time with AC Milan.
In May Tonali was also handed a two-month ban by the English FA after he was found to have gambled on football following his switch to Tyneside from the San Siro, including bets on four Newcastle matches.
That ban was suspended until the end of the 2024/25 season and would only be invoked if he breached betting regulations again.
On Thursday Newcastle shared a statement saying they had been informed by the Italian authorities that Tonali’s ban runs up to and including Tuesday, August 27.
At present that date is when Newcastle face a trip to Nottingham Forest in the League Cup Second Round, although the club expect that to be put back 24 hours until the Wednesday, following their Premier League game at Bournemouth on Sunday, August 25, which means Tonali could play.
The Magpies next host Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, September 1 (1.30pm).
Tonali has been training with Newcastle in pre-season and boss Eddie Howe said last month that Tonali is ‘a massive player for us’ and ‘an edge is there now because he knows (his return) is around the corner.”
