Italy international Tonali ‘magnificent in every way’ after first EPL goal of 2024-25

Newcastle coach Eddie Howe said that Italy international Sandro Tonali was ‘magnificent in every way’ after netting his first Premier League goal of the 2024-25 season in his team’s 3-1 win over Southampton on Saturday.

The Azzurri midfielder scored Newcastle’s third of the game after playing an excellent exchange with Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, before slotting a very composed finish past Alex McCarthy in the Saints net.

It was Tonali’s first Premier League goal of the 2024-25 season, and his first in the league since the opening game of the 2023-24 campaign. He has scored twice in the EFL cup this term as well.

Watch: Tonali grabs first Premier League goal of 2024-25 

“He was magnificent in every way really,” Newcastle coach Howe said during his post-match talk with the press, reported via The Independent.

He continued: ““His ball-wining ability is second to none, his understanding of how we wanted him to play is first class.

“He scored a goal which will take the headlines, it was a great goal to score, showed his athleticism, his speed, his coolness. He’s become such an important player for us in a very quick time. I can’t praise him enough after today.”