Newcastle: 'With the Tonali news, attention switches to the midfield'

On the latest episode of the Total Sport Newcastle United Podcast, Colin White and Matthew Raisbeck are joined by Liam Kennedy from Newcastle World to look ahead to the January transfer window.

The panel said Eddie Howe's attention must switch to bolstering the midfield after news that Sandro Tonali is being investigated by the Italian Prosecutor's Office and Italian Football Federation in relation to illegal betting activity.

"Had the Tonali stuff not broken, I'd have been looking for some sort of forward reinforcement because we've seen already panic can come on quite quickly when all of a sudden Callum Wilson gets one of his injuries," Kennedy said.

"Eddie Howe has managed particularly Wilson very well, I think it's taken him to another level nobody knew he had, but I think there is a panic there that they probably do need someone to step in if there is a problem with one of him or Alexander Isak.

"But, I think with the Tonali news it does definitely switch to the midfield. He was bought in to inject something into the midfield, bring something different and he was the major outlay this summer.

"They're going to need to bring him something else if there is a ban. They've been stretched in that area."