Eddie Howe delivers verdict on Sandro Tonali’s passing on his Newcastle debut

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Newcastle United fans finally got to see Sandro Tonali in action on Tuesday night.

The club’s only summer signing so far made his Newcastle bow during a pre-season win over Rangers at Ibrox.

Tonali is a statement signing for the club and, at 23, represents a long-term investment as they prepare for life back in the Champions League.

While there will be more difficult tests to come and no one should get too excited about a friendly, there were certainly some promising signs.

Indeed, the Italian international played a big role in the opening goal, with his pass freeing Elliot Anderson to tee up Miguel Almiron.

Watching on, Eddie Howe had some positive things to say.

Eddie Howe delivers verdict on Sandro Tonali’s Newcastle debut

Tonali was a leading target for Howe, so watching him in action must have been a pleasing sight.

Speaking to the club’s official website, the Magpies boss said: “Very good. Very calm and composed. As I know he is.

“But really he has gone from Italy and playing in Italy to playing here and it seemed like it was effortless for him, in that the sense that the change of football and style of football – which is invariably very different – he seems to have taken in his stride so far.

“So great signs but his technical performance was outstanding and he linked really well with the players around him so a debut of high promise.”

Promising signs for Newcastle

Yes, it’s frustrating the club haven’t managed to strengthen further but that should not take away from just how exciting a signing Tonali is.

It’s easy to push for more during transfer windows but the midfield is the one area the club haven’t continued to bolster since the takeover, with Bruno Guimaraes the only arrival in that position. To have gone out and signed a 23-year-old regularly playing for one of Europe’s most storied clubs in AC Milan cannot be ignored.

We weren’t lucky enough to see Tonali and Guimaraes on the pitch at the same time but with a pre-season tour of America to come, we’re hopefully going to see Newcastle’s two star midfielders show what they can do ahead of the new season.