Newcastle United are straight back into the top level action after the international break.
Eddie Howe’s side went into the brief pausing of domestic football on the back of three losses and Newcastle can ill-afford to continue on their pretty poor run of form.
Indeed, Brentford, one of the most upwardly-mobile and competitive sides in the Premier League, travel to St James’ Park on Saturday.
Then, it’s the big one.
On Tuesday, Howe will take his team to AC Milan in the Champions League, the first time the club have played at that level in over 20 years. No matter the recent form, that is exciting.
Still, there is a rather big injury concern.
Sandro Tonali a big doubt for clash against AC Milan in the Champions League
Cruelly, that surrounds a certain Sandro Tonali.
The former Milan star who proved so popular during his time at San Siro missed Italy’s win over Ukraine with a muscle problem.
According to Sport Mediaset, the 23-year-old is now a serious risk for the trip to Italy as a result.
With Joe Willock also injured, Howe is low on midfield options as it is, making life more difficult for such a huge game.
A real blow for Newcastle
Should Tonali miss the game, it would prove a real blow for Newcastle.
Elements of his performance against Brighton may have been criticised but the Italian has certainly shown enough during his early days in black and white to back up the“quality” tag slapped on him by teammate Callum Wilson.
Furthermore, as one of the few players in the Newcastle squad with Champions League experience, not having him available means Howe loses at least some top-level nous.
Given how much a return to the club he supported as a boy presumably means to the player too, it is hardly the ideal footing from which to launch Newcastle’s European campaign.
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