Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes will receive Premier League ban - on one condition
Newcastle United face Manchester United and Burnley away from home over the festive period.
Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes heads into the next two matches walking a disciplinary tightrope.
The Magpies face back-to-back Premier League away matches over the festive period, first travelling to Manchester United on Boxing Day before visiting Burnley on December 30.
And Eddie Howe’s side know their away record must improve if they are to start climbing the Premier League table. They currently sit 12th, five points below the top five, with their only victory on the road coming at Everton last month.
United surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Chelsea at St James’ Park last time out, while the week before losing 1-0 to Tyne-Wear rivals Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Bruno Guimaraes at risk of Premier League ban
Guimaraes was shown a yellow card during that Sunderland defeat and as a result is just one booking away from serving an automatic one-match ban.
The Brazilian has been booked four times already this season. As per Premier League rules, any player who earns five bookings from their side's first 19 Premier League matches of a season will have to serve a one-match ban in the same competition.
Guimaraes came through the Chelsea match unscathed and must do so again against Man United and Burnley if he is to avoid missing a game.
If the midfielder were to get booked at Old Trafford then he would miss the trip to Burnley, while a booking at Turf Moor would see him miss the clash at home to Crystal Palace on January 4.
After that, the threshold increases to 10 yellow cards in 32 matches, which would result in a two-match ban.
Manchester United without their own Bruno v Newcastle United
While Newcastle will have their Bruno available for Boxing Day, Man United won’t after Bruno Fernandes picked up a hamstring injury in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat away to Aston Villa.
Providing an update after the game, Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim said: "I think it's soft tissue," the United boss told Sky Sports. "So, it's going to take a while. We'll see.
"It is really strange. During this year, especially at this time, we have so many problems, but we have to cope with that.
"I don't know, I think he is going to lose some games, but I don't know for sure," the head coach revealed. "I don't want to talk about the matter, it is a guy who is always fit and he has shown he can always recover."