Newcastle United have reached the point of perfect balance in their midfield; a potent blend of pace, power, finesse and creativity, with the arrival of Sandro Tonali offering them the equilibrium so many crave but few are able to achieve.

There is a persuasive argument to make that Newcastle’s midfield three of Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton are the best in the Premier League. Two Brazilians and an Italian dominating in every game they play.

Tonali has been the safe cracker; the cheat code. His qualities – his control of the ball, his range of passing, his in-game intelligence and his ability to act as a one-man shield in front of the back four – has unlocked a new level in Newcastle’s displays.

In the first half against Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle’s midfield trio controlled the tempo and direction of the game. The away side took a 2-1 lead before half-time that they would not relinquish.

Against Manchester United, before the New Year’s Eve celebrations, they destroyed their opponents, slicing them apart with such ease Ruben Amorim had to send on another defensive midfielder to stop them running amok. The game, though, was already lost.

But in both games, Eddie Howe’s side had to see out the game, soak up pressure and suffer for each other in the second half.

Playing attractive, front-foot football entertains and Newcastle’s midfield look great doing so, with the power of Joelinton, the creativity of Bruno and Tonali’s technical prowess complementing each other like a perfectly constructed dish.

But it is defensive discipline that tends to win games and they have proven to be just as adept at the uglier, less glamorous side of the game.

Newcastle’s midfield work so cohesively as a unit, they are a formidable group to take on. They disrupt attacks, they snuff out threats, they squeeze space before the opposition get close to Martin Dubravka in goal. They work incredibly hard but also intelligently, dovetailing with each other, working in unison. They also see out games, draw fouls, break up the other team’s momentum. They are streetwise.

Since the 2023-24 season, Newcastle average 1.5 goals against when one of their star trio does not play, compared with 1.1 when they all start. Elsewhere, the shots they concede without one of them starting also increase, to 14.2, up from 12 when Howe deploys them from the start.

Tonali integral to club’s rise

When Newcastle launch a counter-attack, at least one stays to protect the defence in transition. They play some lovely, intricate football, but they also have the tactical and positional intelligence to manage a game.

Tonali has been integral to Howe’s revived side. With six successive wins in all competitions, they are the Premier League’s in-form side and are firmly back among the Champions League contenders.

Tonali’s return to the starting XI has been the catalyst for turning their season around. In the past eight games the Italy international has started, Newcastle have won six and drawn two. He brings the touch of an Italian maestro, but also has the athleticism, strength and endurance needed to thrive in English football.

Newcastle knew what they were signing when they spent £53 million to lure him from AC Milan, but that also meant they knew what they were missing when he served a 10-month ban for breaking gambling rules during his time in Serie A.

Even when that ban ended, it took some time for Tonali to gel with those around him. As ever, Howe has taken his time, making sure the player understands fully what is expected from him before playing him regularly. Even when supporters were screaming for Tonali to start, Howe trusted his own judgment before unleashing him.

Tonali may have been able to train with his team-mates during his long ban, but you only learn to play and trust each other in the heat of battle. Even when his ban ended, it was always going to take some time to get the Italian up to speed. Tonali was given chances at the start of the season and did not take them. Now he has, he is undroppable.

Howe finally has his ideal midfield

This is the midfield Howe wanted to build when he signed Tonali in the summer of 2023 and, finally, after all those months of frustration, we can all appreciate why.

It is also worth noting that, like all the best groups of players, Tonali, Bruno and Joelinton are close friends, too. The bonds and understanding we see on the pitch were formed off it first. All three are foreigners on Tyneside, from very different cultures, but they have bought into what it means to be a Newcastle player.

Newcastle may well have been restricted by the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability rules since the takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, but they have recruited extremely well.

Tonali could have signed for anyone in 2023, but Newcastle moved decisively first and got him. It is the same story with Bruno, Alexander Isak and Sven Botman, who returned from a serious knee injury in the victory over Spurs.

Others have spent more money, but few have used it more wisely than Newcastle. The perfect balance is hard to achieve, but Newcastle have found it in a midfield that will be the envy of English football moving forward.