Sandro Tonali admits he was 'detached' from everyone when serving his 10-month ban

Newcastle United's midfield dynamo Sandro Tonali had to wait just a couple of games into this season to make his return to the game after serving a 10-month ban for breaching gambling rules.

It took him some time to find his place in the side and get back up to speed after such a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but he's since gone on to become one of the most important players in Eddie Howe's arsenal.

The Italian arrived on Tyneside with a lot of hype, but that joy was cut short just a couple of months into his Newcastle career after the allegations came to light, ultimately resulting in a huge ban.

Tonali took his punishment like a champ, served his ban, did the required counselling and has now revealed more details about that dark time.

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Sandro Tonali has been open about his addiction and the 10-month suspension

It's not the first time that Tonali has spoken about that period, it seems like he's not trying to shy away from it at all, and he has now told La Repubblica about how he didn't touch his mobile phone for six months while he tried to deal with his addiction.

“I haven’t had it for six months in the last year. Of course I felt a sense of freedom, the sensation of being okay even without it.

“Before, I couldn’t go from room to room, today I take it when I leave the house and leave it when I come back. I only take it back if mum, dad or a family member calls me.”

Sandro Tonali felt cut adrift in the first couple of months of his ban

Tonali went on to say how he felt 'detached' from everyone and that's what made him realise he was truly being punished.

“In the first two months I was detached from everyone, then returning to life, training every day without having the match, I realised that I was paying for what I had done.”

The Italy international went on to praise the club, his teammates and the fans (even rival fans) for supporting him through it all and never judging him for what he was going through.