In Focus: Tonali yet to settle in New home as he returns to Milan

Sandro Tonali has already faced a baptism of fire at Newcastle and is now set to take on former club AC Milan. 

He has been part of a Magpies side that have lost three of their first five Premier League games having been dealt a difficult set of opening fixtures. 

Ahead of Newcastle's Champions League trip to Tonali's boyhood club, we take a look at how he is settling in on Tyneside. 

Emotional night

It was reported that Tonali was forced out of Milan against his will when he joined Newcastle, which new manager Eddie Howe was quick to deny. 

Yet the playmaker has admitted that Tuesday will be an emotional night as he returns to a stadium that he not only graced as a player, but where he stood on the terraces as a boy. 

He said: "I think I'm going to feel the emotion tomorrow at 90%. Today it's at 10%. 

"It's hard emotions because they don't happen all the time in football. They're special and I'll remember them forever. 

"This is the team I support and the team that gave me a chance to succeed. 

"Things have completely changed. I am here as a rival, I have to manage that but it won't be a problem." 

Midfield balance

Tonali was on the bench for the 1-0 home win against Brentford on Saturday after suffering a minor thigh injury while on international duty with Italy. 

Howe deployed Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff and Elliot Anderson as his midfield three as Newcastle kept their first clean sheet of the season. 

With Joelinton and Joe Willock both injured, it is likely that the 23-year-old will be drafted back into Howe's side. 

Tonali has not been an instant success on Tyneside. After a bright debut in the 5-1 win over Aston Villa, Toon then lost three straight games — albeit against strong opposition. 

The midfield has not looked quite as secure as last season when the Magpies had the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League alongside champions Manchester City. 

Some speculated that the Italian international would anchor Newcastle's midfield, allowing Guimaraes to move to a more advanced role. 

Instead, it has been Tonali who has played on the right on the three. For all their options in this area, Howe still lacks a defensive specialist. 

Difficult start

It took time for Tonali to adapt to life in Milan after his move from Brescia in 2020 but he eventually proved his class. 

Newcastle fans might need to show some patience with a young player adapting to life in a new country, as he explained this week. 

Tonali said: "This summer has been hard and I've had a difficult start. 

"At the beginning, it was not easy to find my place in Newcastle but people have supported me and still helping me now. 

"They really helped me out in my personal and professional life. My team-mates have been amazing, especially with the language. That was very difficult for me. 

"At the beginning, I was kind of lost and I received so much help from everybody in every aspect — language, sport and tactics." 

Perhaps the familiarity of the San Siro will help Tonali to feel at home in a Newcastle shirt.