Three Newcastle United players are balancing their disciplinary records ahead of their matches against Nottingham Forest and Luton Town.
On Saturday, the Magpies play at Luton (3 p.m. kickoff) before hosting Forest at St. James’ Park (12:30 p.m. kickoff) on Boxing Day. With just one booking separating Sean Longstaff, Joelinton, and Jamaal Lascelles from suspension, Eddie Howe’s team is primed for a festive double header.
To avoid suspension, every player must refrain from receiving a yellow card in the next league games against Nottingham Forest and Luton Town. After spending the previous weekend serving his one-match suspension, Kieran Trippier will return to Newcastle. Suspensions for yellow cards do not apply to cup competitions.
A player gets suspended for one match if they have received five bookings in the first 19 league games. After Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes each received five bookings in the Premier League this season, Trippier became the third player from Newcastle to get a suspension.
For the first time since the beginning of the previous season, Trippier did not start for United in the Premier League against Fulham. On Saturday, Longstaff and Lascelles might get the start at Luton, but Joelinton is probably going to be sidelined due to a hamstring injury he sustained against Fulham the previous weekend.
Regarding reservations, Sandro Tonali, Dan Burn, and Fabian Schar have two. While Burn and Schar will not serve a yellow card ban for not picking up five bookings before the deadline, which is the trip to Liverpool on New Year’s Day, Tonali is now suspended for betting violations.
Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron, Matt Ritchie, Matt Targett, Sven Botman, Tino Livramento, Harvey Barnes, and Sven Botman all have one Premier League booking apiece.
