EDDIE’S PLEA: GO EASY ON TONALI

Howe fears extension to Italian’s current bets ban

EDDIE HOWE has pleaded with the FA to spare Sandro Tonali an extension to his 10-month ban – insisting he has an illness and will have suffered enough.

The Newcastle boss reacted to the FA charging the Italy international with misconduct for 50 alleged betting offences, by insisting the best thing for Tonali’s recovery from a gambling addiction is to be playing again in August.

Howe admits an extension to the penalty imposed by the Italian authorities is still a possibility, which could impact Toon well into next season.

But Howe warned: “I will be hugely disappointed if that ban was extended. I certainly hope for Sandro there are no further consequences. We hope, we certainly hope strongly for Sandro, that will be the case.

“We don’t have any specific information to say there is clarity on it.

“He has suffered during this period, he has sought help, he’s been very honest, he has admitted he has an issue.

“I think the best thing for Sandro would be to resume his career having taken his punishment and having learned a lot of lessons from this.

“He is seeking help on a regular basis. This is something that won’t go away for him, so he has regular meetings in Italy and in England to deal with t h e problems that he has.” Howe, who spoke with a logo for one of Newcastle’s sponsors behind him – gambling firm Fun88 – was asked if it was time the game turned down cash from betting firms to lessen the exposure of fans and players to temptation and addiction.

Howe said: “It is a real issue that needs discussing. This isn’t a Newcastle problem, this is something that is open to every young person in the world and is becoming more accessible, more relevant.

“I am not here to say what should happen, but I am here to say there needs to be thought about what we do next.”

Newcastle paid AC Milan £54million for Tonali in the summer only to see him banned on October 27. The player didn’t reveal his addiction during transfer talks.

Howe explained: “I don’t feel let down by that. Sandro has an illness. If this was associated with another form of illness, there would be a lot more sympathy and understanding. That illness did not stop the minute he moved to England. That illness was still there.

“It was only when everything that had happened – instantly he was very apologetic and sorry for what he had done – he needed help. We have tried, along with Sandro’s representatives and his family, to get him the help he needs to recover from this.

“I’ve got no issues trusting Sandro at all. He’s responded to what’s happened to him outstandingly well.”

Howe could have injured trio Kieran Trippier, Tino Livramento and Harvey Barnes available again after injury.

But he sought to clear up the controversy around Sven Botman’s knee operation.

Howe revealed the defender refused surgery earlier in the season, a delay that some fans blamed on the medical team.

Botman (left) broke down again in the Magpies’ last match against Manchester City and has had a cruciate ligament surgery.

Howe added: “You can’t force a player to have an operation. He was adamant his knee felt good.”