Newcastle United ban inevitable as £40m star faces possible Eddie Howe meeting
Joelinton has promised to be “calmer” to avoid a potential one-game ban for Newcastle United.
The Brazilian - who kept his cool in the goalless draw with Everton - is just one booking away for reaching five for the season. That figure would force him out of Eddie Howe’s thinking for one round of fixtures.
Bruno Guimaraes had a similar problem last season, going a staggering 11 games without a caution to avoid a two-game suspension. Howe opened up about talks he held with the midfielder - a situation he might repeat with Joelinton given his precarious position.
"It's a big relief for him (Guimaraes) and us," Howe. "We had a meeting a long time ago and he promised me he wouldn't get booked. I didn't believe a word of it, we had so many games to go and his style, I didn't think he'd be able to control that in the moments he needed to.
"It’s an amazing thing he's done for the team because we knew if we lost him we'd be even more depleted. As you saw today, he's so important for us."
Joelinton admitted four yellow cards after seven games is “a lot” and he must “control” himself more on the pitch. Since moving into the engine room, the 28-year-old has become a midfield wrecking machine prone to yellow cards.
“It’s a lot of yellow cards,” Joelinton said. “It’s about me controlling myself better on the pitch, being more calm. Not taking away the way I play, but being more calm with the ref and not giving away the easy free-kicks. Against Everton, I controlled myself better and I was pleased not to get a yellow card.”