SANDRO Tonali looks set to make his Newcastle United return in the Carabao Cup second round tie at Nottingham Forest.

The Magpies have today confirmed that the Italy international will be available for selection on Wednesday, August 28 following the conclusion of his 10-month ban from competitive football.

A date for United's trip to the City Ground in the second round of the League Cup hasn't yet been confirmed, but the ties will take place in the week commencing Monday, August 26 and the fact Newcastle are in action in the Premier League away at Bournemouth on Sunday, August 25 means their second round fixture will almost certainly take place on the Wednesday rather than the Tuesday.

That would mean Tonali can feature a few days ahead of his initial expected return game, which was the Premier League encounter with Tottenham on Sunday, September 1.

Howe is excited about the return of Tonali and has been encouraged by what he's seen from the midfielder in pre-season.

He said earlier this summer: “He’s come back really fit and focused.

"You can see a change in his demeanour - there is definitely a change in him in terms of feeling as he is closer to playing. It is very difficult when you have that stretch ahead of you and you are not going to play competitively for such a length of time.

“He now looks ready to play and ready to make a difference, he does feel like an absolute new signing and somebody we desperately missed last year.

“He will feel like he's got points to prove and objectives to hit. He came here with very clear motivations to be successful. He is a deep thinker and someone who wants to do very well. I have no doubt he will.”

Tonali did get some game-time under his belt when he played for Newcastle in a behind closed doors practice match against Burnley in the summer. But his last competitive outing came in the Champions League defeat at home to Dortmund last October.

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Meanwhile, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner says he's looking forward to the end of the summer transfer window as the uncertainty surrounding the future of Newcastle target Marc Guehi continues.

The Magpies have tabled a third bid for the England international but Palace chairman Steve Parish said this week United "are not giving us a decision to make at the moment".

Guehi himself spoke to the media in the capital this week and insisted his only focus was on Palace's Premier League opener against Brentford this weekend, but it's understood the 24-year-old is keen on the Tyneside switch.

Although the two clubs have not yet come to an agreement, boss Glasner was asked whether he's resigned to losing Guehi to Newcastle, saying: "There's so many rumours. Not just about Marc. About Joachim Andersen. About [Jordan] Ayew. About [Eberechi] Eze.

"Many rumours and I will be happy when it's September 1. The transfer window is closed. I will go into a pub and have a Guinness and relax."