The heartwarming tale of Sandro Tonali and Newcastle United fans during his darkest moment

Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali will return to the San Siro later this week in the colours of Italy - but he has insisted he remains indebted to the Magpies.

His homecoming to Milan will undoubtedly capture the imagination of the Italian media and pulling on a blue shirt at the San Siro will probably prompt obvious questions of one day returning to the Rossoneri. Of course, Tonali has been back to the famous old stadium since leaving Milan but this will be the first time since he was banned by FIFA for betting offences.

The midfielder will probably start both of Italy's two matches in the UEFA Nations League away to Belgium then at home to France on familiar territory for Tonali in front of the Curva Sud. Tonali has lost his place in Eddie Howe's starting side of late and his withdrawals in games against Brighton and Chelsea resulted in boos for Eddie Howe - the first and only signs of frustration from Newcastle supporters during his three-year stint in charge.

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Although, fall seemed forgiven in the 2-0 win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup when Tonali's substitution was greeted with warm applause before Howe himself was afforded some affection from fans as he hugged the midfield star. Before Tonali's emotional return to Milan gets under way, it is clear that for all the talk of him being linked with a return to the Serie A side or indeed the audacious rumours of Real Madrid interest, he knows that he owes Newcastle fans one.

During the midfielder's 10-month ban for illegal betting he felt the love of the supporters in a way even he could not have anticipated when he made his £55million move from AC Milan.

Tonali told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "The Newcastle fans had an unexpected behaviour towards me during my disqualification. And I thank them, they didn't pass any judgement towards me.

"Even when I watched matches at the stadium during the ban they did not pass any judgement instead they shook my hand and this struck with me because I didn't expect that."

Tonali also has a vision of lifting a trophy with Newcastle which sits high on his wish-list and suggests unstarted business, let alone unfinished, on Tyneside. He said: "We're in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. Last year didn't go well for any of us.

"But it remains our big goal to win something here."

Despite not starting recently for Newcastle, Howe does not have any issues with him playing back to back 90 minutes with Italy if necessary. He said: : "We have held a lot of individual meetings with him. A lot of tactical reviews. It is one thing reviewing his training performances but that is totally different from reviewing his match performances and find ways of taking his game to another level. It is a lot easier when a player is in the team.

"I have pleased the way he has come back from his ban. The international games have helped him and he has made a good transition back into the team."