For Tonali, this feels like an important reset. The midfielder was reportedly held back not because of a fresh injury concern, but because De Zerbi wanted more work into his legs after an uneven start to the campaign. That matters against Newcastle, where control in midfield is rarely optional.
Tottenham have invested heavily in the Italian, and this is the kind of fixture where his calmness in possession and willingness to compete can steady a side that looked rattled in the 3-0 defeat at Brentford.
The manager’s frustration appears to go beyond one player. The update says Tonali, Marcos Senesi and Van Hecke were among those highlighted as being below the required physical level, with a demanding pre-season schedule and long-haul travel leaving the squad playing catch-up.
There are other moving parts too:
That helps explain why Tottenham have looked disjointed: the ideas may be there, but the legs are not always following.
Other reports suggest Newcastle have opened the season with real energy, with their attacking threats already finding a rhythm. That makes this a difficult moment for a side still searching for fluency.
If Tonali does return, he will be asked to do more than just start - he will need to give Tottenham shape, tempo and a sense of authority. When Newcastle come to town, the next storyline will be simple: are Spurs finally ready to match De Zerbi’s demands, or are they still stuck in pre-season mode?