Sean Longstaff lifts the lid on mood at Newcastle as Sandro Tonali faces gambling ban

Sean Longstaff has insisted Newcastle can cope as Sandro Tonali braces himself for a lengthy ban in the next 24 hours.

‌The Italian is awaiting the verdict of the Italian authorities after admitting betting offences while at Milan, before his £55m transfer this summer. Eddie Howe will have Tonali available for the Champions League clash with Dortmund, even if his ban is announced on Wednesday, because it will only become active the day after.

‌Longstaff insists the return of Joelinton and Joe Willock will ease the blow of losing Tonali and said: “I’m confident we can cope. We don't know the outcome yet but we’ve got Joe Willock coming back, Joelinton fit again and Elliot Anderson has stepped up massively. And then we’ve got the little superstar Lewis Miley coming through, who I absolutely love.

“The big one is Willock coming back. I could talk all day about how good he is and even watching him in training this week, it doesn’t look like he’s missed a minute. I’m really excited to have him back.”

Longstaff admits to being worried when the club signed Tonali, who he was a big fan of. “We used to talk about how good he is then he walks through the door! I'm not sure how much of a good thing it is for me!

“It's been a privilege to be around him, watch him and what he does.Sandro fitted in our group is amazing. There's stuff going around and people asking if he is happy to be here which is weird from within the group because we see how happy he is, laughing and joking with everyone.”

Coach Howe has prepared for Tonali being available to play with his situation in limbo awaiting news from his lawyers. Howe says the club will come up with a transfer plan if they lose Tonali for a year or more. He added: “We will have time to prepare a strategy for that moment but it’s not yet. I know there are a lot of rumours going around but until we hear for definite, January and all that will entail has to wait.”

‌Longstaff says he has to pinch himself to see how far Newcasle have come since fighting relegation two years ago. “Considering where me and a lot of the lads were two and a half years ago, to think you'd be sitting in this position and doing a press conference before a Champions League game seemed nearly impossible, I would say.

“I think now we're just trying to enjoy the momentum and enjoy the good times, I would say. A lot of it has been a long time coming and probably something that we didn't think would happen, so for us to be in this position now is a real privilege.”

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