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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe says the club will “throw our arms around” Sandro Tonali amid the midfielder’s involvement in an investigation into alleged illegal betting activity.

The club confirmed this week that their key summer signing was being investigated by the Italian prosecutor’s office and its football federation (FIGC) over accusations of using illegal betting platforms, adding that the Italy international was “fully engaging with the investigation and will continue to cooperate with all relevant authorities”.

The player’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, had earlier said that the player was battling against a gambling “illness.”

Tonali is still eligible to play while the investigation continues but Howe said that supporting the 23-year-old through the process was his priority.

“For me it’s absolutely crucial,” Howe said at his pre-match press conference. “The most important part of this whole incident is Sandro and his welfare. It’s very easy for people to forget how young he is, the changes he’s had in his life, coming from Italy to England; that’s hard enough to deal with and now he has this situation.

“We feel as a football club straight away, it’s throw our arms around him, protect him and try and give him love and support that he needs to find solutions to the problems he’s had.

“That’s what we’re endeavouring to do with a lot of conversations, a lot of communication with him and his family, because it’s not just Sandro. It’s been a big effort from us and I have to say he has handled himself superbly well. (He’s) obviously emotional but he’s handled himself with respect and dignity.”