Watch: Sandro Tonali scores his first ever goal for Italy against Belgium

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has bagged his first international goal tonight in the first half of their Nations League game against Belgium.

The £55 million midfielder slotted straight back into the Italy starting XI after serving his 10-month ban and has now repaid his country's faith in him with his first goal.

Given how highly regarded Tonali is in Italy, it's actually a surprise that the 24-year-old hasn't scored for his country until now.

In fairness, goals aren't really a noted part of his game, despite giving Newcastle fans that impression when he scored on his debut for the Magpies.

Sandro Tonali could do with adding goals to his game

The 11th-minute goal by Tonali won't go down as a classic after he just tapped home into an empty net, but it could give him a huge confidence boost that he can bring back to Tyneside.

Adding goals to his game could be a way to force his way back into Eddie Howe's first team after the Italian has had to make do with a place on the bench in the last two games.

It's become clear that Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali can't play together, and the side operates best when it's one or the other.

Anthony Gordon started for England with Lewis Hall set to play the second half

One international goal isn't going to make that much of a difference, of course, but he and Bruno need to work out a way to differentiate themselves so they can both occupy the pitch at the same time on a consistent basis.

Elsewhere in the first half of the internationals, Odysseas Vlachodimas conceded an early goal against England which had only Anthony Gordon from the trio of Newcastle players in from the start.

Although with the second half about to get underway at the time of writing, Lewis Hall looks like he's about to come on for the second half.