Sandro Tonali paid off the primary instalment of his £52million switch price as he marked a positive debut together with his first aim and impressed Newcastle to a 5-1 drubbing of Aston Villa.
The 23-year-old Italy worldwide opened the scoring simply six minutes into his first aggressive look for the Magpies and had a hand in two extra of their objectives as Alexander Isak helped himself to a double and substitutes Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes struck late on after Moussa Diaby, additionally making his bow in England’s high flight, had levelled.
Nevertheless, a massively entertaining sport win was overshadowed by a probably critical damage to Villa’s England defender Tyrone Mings, who was carried from the pitch on a stretcher to heat applause from a crowd of 52,207 at St James Park after happening following a conflict with Isak.
IT DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THAT! pic.twitter.com/z35XNjViqu
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 12, 2023
Neither Tonali nor Diaby wasted any time in making a major affect for his or her new employers.
Lower than six minutes had elapsed when the Italian timed his arrival into the six-yard field completely to volley dwelling Anthony Gordon’s cross after Emiliano Martinez had parried Bruno Guimaraes strike, and he might need doubled his tally two minutes later however for the goalkeeper’s block.
Nevertheless, Newcastle’s benefit lasted solely fleetingly when Diaby, who had seen an earlier try from a decent angle saved by Nick Pope, was equally nicely positioned to equalise after Ollie Watkins had flicked on Lucas Digne’s left-wing cross.
However the spectacular Tonali was not completed and it was his deep Sixteenth-minute cross which was turned acrobatically throughout aim by the stretching Sven Botman for Alexander Isak to open his account for the season from shut vary.
Pope was relieved to see Watkins’ scuffed first-time effort from livewire Diaby’s pull-back after one other menacing run slide simply broad as an end-to-end encounter unfolded at frantic tempo.
Villa’s fortunes took an additional flip for the more severe when Mings, simply days after midfielder Emiliano Buendia suffered a critical knee damage, was carried from the sector following a tangle of legs with Isak.
Tyrone Mings has suffered an damage and Pau Torres is on for his debut.
Speedy restoration, @TyroneMings. pic.twitter.com/gOMWGn3aMR
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 12, 2023
The guests however refused to take a backwards step in a breathless contest and Watkins might need finished higher after assembly Digne’s nook unopposed, whereas Diaby fired into the side-netting from Luiz’s clever cross three minutes earlier than the break.
Martinez picked up a stoppage-time reserving for hauling again Miguel Almiron exterior his penalty space with the house crowd calling for a crimson card and making their emotions in the direction of referee Andy Madley abundantly clear when he didn’t produce one.
One other Villa new boy, Youri Tielemans, entered the fray as a half-time alternative for Leon Bailey, however Gordon noticed a 51st-minute try deflected broad after Almiron had led a pacy counter-attack.
Tielemans helped to drive the guests ahead as soon as once more, however that allowed the Magpies to take advantage of the house they left behind, they usually went additional forward with 58 minutes gone when Isak pounced on a slip by Ezri Konsa earlier than chipping the ball over the advancing Martinez.
The Villa keeper needed to race from his line as soon as once more to disclaim Joelinton, however recovered in time to subject Almiron’s follow-up, though it was Pope who was known as upon to repel Watkins’ Sixty fourth-minute drive earlier than Matty Money blazed over from the rebound.
Martinez was overwhelmed as soon as once more 13 minutes from time when Barnes collected Tonali’s cross and crossed for Wilson to attain, and though the Argentina worldwide denied Wilson a second with an instinctive save, he was overwhelmed once more by Barnes in added time.
