Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has confirmed that Sandro Tonali is "very much available for selection" for Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace despite his ongoing investigation into illegal betting activity.
The Magpies released a statement on Wednesday confirming that Tonali is the subject of an Italian football betting probe and he is "fully engaging with the investigation".
After withdrawing from the Italy national team squad earlier this month, the 23-year-old briefly returned to Newcastle before heading back to Italy to attend a hearing at the prosecutor's office at the Court of Turin on Tuesday.
It is understood that Tonali has admitted to betting on football games, both in which he played and did not play, for his former club AC Milan to win during his time at the Serie A side.
The midfielder, who is battling with a gambling addiction according to his agent Giuseppe Riso, is at risk of a lengthy suspension from worldwide football ranging from seven months to three years and he is allegedly set to discover the verdict of his case at some stage next week.
In the meantime, Tonali has returned to Newcastle and has trained with his teammates this week, with manager Howe confirming that the midfielder is available to play in Saturday's encounter with Crystal Palace at St James' Park.
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Speaking at a press conference on Friday morning, Howe said: "He's very much with us. I think he trained twice this week. He's very much available for selection.
"Like I do with all the players, I'm analysing their training performances, how they look, how they feel. Sandro's trained well.
"He's had a very difficult couple of weeks. He's been dealing with a lot.
"I see him for a few hours a day but, from what I can see, he's handling himself very well and he's dealing with his emotions incredibly strongly.
"But underneath that I'm sure there's a lot going on, so I'll have to make a call. I have to bring it back to football and his training performances, then try to make the best decision for the team."
Howe has admitted that the news about Tonali – a £55m summer signing from Milan – came as a total surprise, adding: "I got a phone call from Dan Ashworth [sporting director] during the international break. It was a total surprise to me and him. But these are the things, when you're in this job, that can happen.
"My immediate thought process was for Sandro and making sure he's OK. It's a very difficult period."
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The Magpies boss is unsure when Tonali's case will be settled, saying: "Personally, no, I don't. There are other people dealing with that who maybe have a better idea. My focus has been on Sandro himself and the training this week."
Asked about whether Milan were aware of Tonali's gambling activity, Howe said: "That's something I can't comment on. I've no idea. My thought process is all about Sandro and trying to help him.
"We've got players to come back in and the emergence of Elliot Anderson has been brilliant. Lewis Miley during pre-season was outstanding so we do have players from that unit. But that's something we'll have to assess."
Tonali is one of three Italian footballers who have been named in an Italian football betting probe along with Aston Villa's Nicolo Zaniolo and Juventus' Nicolo Fagioli, the latter of whom has been handed a seven-month ban from football and has been fined €12,500 following a court hearing.
The betting scandal comes around five months after Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney was given an eight-month ban from football after accepting 232 breaches of the Football Association's rules on betting.
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Howe believes that education is key with regards to betting in sport and believes that footballers need all the support they can get to ensure they 'develop good habits' to give themselves "the best chance of as long a career as possible."
Asked if this is the first time that he has handled a situation similar to Tonali's, Howe said: "It probably is, yeah. There's so many different things with people's personal lives that can happen. Footballers are human beings and to look at them as anything other is wrong.
"We all have vulnerabilities, weaknesses and things that happen in our lives that can be difficult.
"The main thing is that we identify it, try to help the player and, as we'll always do, try to help them get to their best level on the pitch.
"Education is always the most important thing. In the academies, getting that information through to the players.
"Developing good habits in your life is so important as a professional athlete, to give yourself the best chance of as long a career as possible. As a football club, it's our duty to do that."
Tonali has made 10 appearances for Newcastle in all competitions since joining the club in the summer, scoring once on his debut in August.
Oliver Thomas
