Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has revealed there is a "high chance" Sandro Tonali could be involved in Saturday's Premier League fixture at Wolves despite being handed a 10-month ban.
The Italian football federation announced on Thursday that 23-year-old Italy international had been suspended until next season following an investigation into illegal betting, although the sanction is yet to be ratified by governing bodies UEFA and FIFA.
That means Tonali's ban may not apply to him playing for Newcastle ahead of the match with Wolves.
Howe told reporters on Friday: "Yes, I think there's a high chance again that he could be available for us.
"I still think there are a few things that have to happen before the ban is imposed, so let's see."
Newcastle boss Howe has described his club as in "limbo" over their player's impending absence.
He said: "It's a difficult one because we haven't had official confirmation as a football club yet.
"We've heard the news, the statement, but we haven't had anything from the Italian authorities at the moment, so we're in limbo, really, waiting for that official confirmation to come through."
