Sandro Tonali took a voluntary pay cut because of his “guilt” at being banned for 10 months for betting.
The Italy international was spared an extended ban when the FA gave him a two-month suspended sentence on Thursday for making 50 wagers after joining Newcastle - including four on their games. Howe reacted to the ruling which will see Tonali free to play at the end of August and said he took a cut on his usual pay packet which is thought to be in the region of £200,000-a-week.
Howe said the pay cut “was something he wanted to do and he felt the guilt after joining a new club.” It has potentially cost Tonali a seven figure sum this season, which has been a write off for him.
Howe added: “He wanted to show in good faith he was sorry, and determined to learn from it. Those are signs that we have a good human being in the club and keen to put it behind him and play for Newcastle.
"When this started he was very keen to hold his hands up and help everyone uncover it all. He was sorry for what he had done. He deserves credit for that and helps him mentally to put him behind it.
"It is the right decision. The ban is not extended and Sandro is working hard behind the scenes and has trained well. We are supporting him as he serves this time.
“I see a fraction of his life. He is a good pro and trains well and is relatively quiet in the group. That is his personality. He is focused on improving his game. I am sure he has had difficult moments over the last few months.
"But I see hunger there all the time. He has done lots of work on his own, because he has missed games. Gym work, we have worked on his speed. He has used the time in a positive way.”
Tonali, signed for £60m in July, has been a big miss and Howe admits his ban has contributed to a “turbulent” season also hampered by injuries. Howe added: “You accidentally put him in the team and think oh, no I can’t .
"I know what difference he would have made this year. We’d have won more big games. I hope some good comes from it and he has adapted to the English style and Premier League and so he can look at it and say it helped me settle into England.”
Fab Schar will miss the last four games of the season with a hamstring problem. Joelinton and Miguel Almiron could make the bench at Burnley and Kieran Trippier expected back next week.
Newcastle need wins to get into the Europa League and Howe said: “(The Europe Conference League) is not a poison chalice. We would value European qualification of any sort. We want the higher competiton if we can. Those are our goals.”
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