Sean Longstaff is walking a disciplinary tightrope for Newcastle United ahead of their return to Premier League action.
Longstaff injured his ankle in the 2-0 loss to AFC Bournemouth before the international break. Despite finishing the game, he is a doubt for Saturday’s match against Chelsea at St James’ Park.
However, if he does play, the midfielder faces suspension after receiving four bookings this season.
In addition to Sandro Tonali’s 10-month betting ban, the Magpies currently have a lengthy injury list. However, a few players, most notably Bruno Guimaraes, are expected to return to the starting lineup against Chelsea this weekend.
Guimaraes was suspended for the Bournemouth game after receiving his fifth yellow card of the Premier League season earlier this month against Arsenal.
Longstaff received his fourth league booking for dissent in the same game after being the victim of a dangerous challenge from Kai Havertz.
To avoid suspension, Longstaff must not pick up another league booking until the trip to Liverpool on January 1, 2024.
Any player who is booked five times in the first 19 Premier League matches of a club’s season is suspended for one match.
Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon have already been suspended by Newcastle this season for collecting five yellow cards in the Premier League.
Kieran Trippier has three Premier League bookings for Newcastle, while Dan Burn, Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, and Sandro Tonali each have two. Joelinton, Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Tino Livramento, Matt Targett, and Callum Wilson each have one booking.
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has previously emphasized the Premier League rule changes this season that have resulted in referees issuing more yellow cards.
“The rules now mean there will be more yellow cards so the referees [have] definitely tightened up over the summer in terms of discipline, time-wasting and loads of little things to the game where you can and some of our players have picked up a yellow card for nothing, or perceived nothing,” Howe said.
“More yellow cards equals more suspensions, so we must be cautious.” But I don’t want to take aggression out of anyone’s game; it’s the indisciplined ones that we want to eliminate.”
Players who receive 10 yellow cards in the first 32 Premier League matches face a two-match suspension, while anyone who receives 15 bookings in a season faces a three-match suspension that can be carried over into the following season if necessary.
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