Newcastle news: Sandro Tonali-Bruno Guimaraes partnership ‘absolutely superb’ – Alan Shearer

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe revealed he had slightly tweaked his midfield for their 4-0 win over Ipswich Town in his post-match interview with BBC Sport.

Former Magpies striker Alan Shearer analysed the changes, which “helped the whole team” on Match of the Day: “In recent games, Eddie Howe has put Sandro Tonali in the number six role and moved Bruno Guimaraes a little bit further forward to give him a little bit more freedom to get into forward positions.

“It certainly helped both of the players and, more importantly, it helped the team.

“Tonali will sit there in midfield – he is very good at that and I think he feels very important in that role. He is certainly a better player for it because he has the skills to do that.

“A lot of the time, when he gets the ball, within one or two touches he likes and wants to play the ball forward. So for the forward players, that is much better.

“He has to do his work defensively as well and he has certainly done that in recent games.

“The understanding of both Tonali and Guimaraes in their roles was absolutely superb. Sometimes it was Guimaraes getting on the ball and him passing it forward, other times it was Tonali.

“Bruno was very clever in what he had to do in that role. He feels part of it as well because that role is certainly suiting him.”

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