Newcastle United’s midfielder, Bruno Guimaraes, is at risk of being handed a one-match suspension in the Premier League. Guimaraes was cautioned with a yellow card for a foul committed against Emerson during Newcastle’s 2-2 draw at the London Stadium just before the international break. This marked the fourth yellow card he received in eight Premier League matches this season. As per the Premier League rules, accumulating five yellow cards before matchday 20 would result in a one-match suspension.
Considering Guimaraes’ current trend of bookings and his general robust playing style, it appears improbable that he will avoid receiving another yellow card in each of Newcastle’s next 11 games. Nevertheless, Magpies’ head coach Eddie Howe won’t instruct the player to alter his approach to the game to prevent suspension.
Howe explained, “It’s similar for any player; restraining [his aggression] may not be the best course of action since it could take away from his natural style of play. We are primarily concerned with the avoidable bookings. The recent rule changes imply that more yellow cards will be issued, as referees have certainly become more stringent with discipline since the summer, targeting time-wasting and other minor infractions that can result in yellow cards, some of which our players have received for what might be perceived as trivial offenses.”
“With more yellow cards come more suspensions, so we need to be cautious. However, I’m not inclined to eliminate aggression from anyone’s game. It’s the disciplinary infractions that we aim to eliminate.”
Newcastle has already experienced one player suspension due to accumulating five yellow cards, with Anthony Gordon missing the West Ham United match. He is now available for selection to face Crystal Palace.
Last season, Newcastle had only one player suspended due to yellow cards, Joelinton, who was banned for one match after accumulating five yellow cards in the first 19 league games and a two-match ban for accumulating 10 yellow cards within the first 32 league matches.
This season, Joelinton has received just one booking, alongside Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Fabian Schar, Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn, Matt Targett, Kieran Trippier, and Callum Wilson. Sandro Tonali, on the other hand, has collected two bookings and is just three yellow cards away from a suspension before matchday 20. However, his immediate concern revolves around an investigation into alleged illegal betting and not the prospect of suspension.
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