TACTICAL SHIFT: HOW EDDIE HOWE UNLOCKED SANDRO TONALI’S GOALSCORING INSTINCTS AGAINST VILLA
Sandro Tonali's brace sends Newcastle into the FA Cup fifth round: Read the full Villa Park report and Bruno Guimarães injury news.
Sandro Tonali showed up when Newcastle United needed him most, sending Aston Villa crashing out of the FA Cup.
With Bruno Guimaraes sidelined, everyone wondered who’d step up. Tonali didn’t just fill the gap; he owned it. News broke late the night before that Guimaraes would be out for ten weeks, and you could almost hear the groans from Newcastle fans. They haven’t won a single Premier League match without him this season. It felt like the season might be slipping away.
Newcastle supporters, already battered by years of bad luck and a never-ending injury list, braced for the worst. How would they survive without their midfield heartbeat? But when the pressure was on, Tonali took charge. He smashed in two long-range goals, turning Valentine’s Day into a celebration for the travelling Toon Army.
People have talked plenty about Tonali lately: whispers about his form, transfer rumours, what his agent might be up to, and even frustration after that loss to Manchester City. All of that faded away in 90 minutes. With two clinical strikes, he reminded everyone exactly where his loyalties lie. Sure, there’ll be more rumours before the summer, but right now, Newcastle have a midfielder who can fill the Guimaraes-sized hole.
Thanks to Tonali, everyone talked about Newcastle’s football after the match, not the referee’s blunders. Chris Kavanagh handed out dodgy cards and missed a few big calls, but Newcastle’s win made all that easier to swallow. If they’d lost, you can bet Eddie Howe would’ve had a few words.
But they didn’t lose, and Tonali ended up the hero, sending Newcastle into the FA Cup fifth round. Howe summed it up: “The only way Sandro can answer questions about his form is out on the pitch, and he did exactly that today. We needed players to step up with Bruno out, and all three midfielders did just that. Sandro got two, and Nick grabbed one; our midfielder made a huge difference. We're going to need that until Bruno’s back.”
Speaking of Nick Woltemade, he finally broke his goal drought after 14 games. The 6,000 away fans let him know how much they appreciated it, singing his name long after the final whistle.
Howe praised Woltemade too: “Nick was brilliant in that deeper role, and he deserved his goal. He’s been working hard, learning a new position, and today it paid off. He did the job, on and off the ball, and finished it off with a great goal. I’m really happy for him. Hopefully, this gives him the confidence to keep going and shows him what’s possible for his future here.”
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
