'We are waiting' - Newcastle United WAG posts emotive message to comeback star

The girlfriend of Sandro Tonali has shown her support as the Newcastle United midfielder celebrates his 24th birthday.

Tonali and his partner Juliette Pastore moved to Tyneside last summer when the player completed his £52million transfer from boyhood club AC Milan. However, it has been a challenging start to life in England after Tonali was suspended from football in October.

The Italy international was banned for 10 months by the Italian Football Federation following an investigation into illegal betting activity. The English FA also launched their own inquiry and last week handed Tonali a two-month suspended sentence, meaning he is free to resume his promising career at the end of August.

Although Tonali has been able to train with his Newcastle teammates as normal, it has undoubtedly been a difficult period. And by his side, every step of the way, has been Pastore.

The fashion designer is regularly active on Instagram and on Wednesday morning wished Tonali a happy birthday. And there are two hashtags will grab the attention of Newcastle, the first being “come back stronger” and the second “we are waiting for you.”

Magpies’ head coach Eddie Howe admitted Tonali would be “like a new signing” when he returns. The former Brescia midfielder made 12 appearances and scored one goal before beginning his ban.

“It will be a huge thing for us,” said Howe. “We’ve had him in our training numbers all year and there are times when you’re looking at what you can do with the team and where you can take the team and you accidentally put him in the team and you go ‘oh no I can’t!’. It’s been a huge frustration to have a top quality player that you can’t use.

“I know what he can do and the difference he’ll have made this year but it wasn’t to be. But I think for us, and for him, from this situation good comes of it, that he's able to learn and develop to the English style and ultimately could be something that he looks back on in a few years time and goes ‘actually you know what that helped me settle into England’.