Newcastle United star facing Champions League ban after Marseille incident
Two Newcastle United players are at risk of a one-match Champions League ban.
Newcastle United pair Dan Burn and Joelinton are on the brink of a one-match ban in the Champions League.
After missing Saturday’s win over Manchester City through suspension, Burn was recalled to the starting XI for the 2-1 defeat to Marseille on Tuesday night, while Joelinton was an unused substitute.
Howe named three changes to his line-up as Burn, Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon came in for Lewis Hall, Joelinton and Nick Woltemade.
_pages-to-jpg-0001.jpeg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
The evening started perfectly for the Magpies with Harvey Barnes breaking the deadlock just six minutes in, however, a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brace at the start of the second half inflicted a fourth straight away defeat on Howe’s side.
It was only the third time in a row Newcastle have taken the lead away from home, yet ended up losing.
Dan Burn reacts to Newcastle United’s defeat to Marseille
Reflecting on the defeat, Burn said: "Definitely frustrating. I thought we stuck to the game-plan pretty well for the whole game, just 10, 15 minutes of madness at the start of the second half has cost us.
"It's definitely disappointing to come to a team like this and a stadium like this, atmosphere like this and put all that in and not come away with anything. Yes, it's disappointing.
"Mentally, we didn't start the second half as well as we wanted to and I think obviously Aubameyang, 36 years old, but still sharp and can still finish and showed his quality today.
"When you go 2-1 down and you've got to break them down away from home, it's tough. As I say, I think it was actually a pretty good performance, but key moments cost us.
"We had chances that we should have scored and didn't capitalise on them, and then obviously the two goals, we're really disappointed."
Newcastle United duo one yellow away from Champions League ban
Burn was shown a yellow card in the 65th minute for a cynical foul on midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, which saw him join Joelinton on two bookings in this season’s Champions League.
That means the duo must avoid a booking in the remaining league phase matches against Bayer Leverkusen, PSV Eindhoven and Paris Saint-Germain to escape an automatic one-match ban.
UEFA rules state “From the first match in the league phase, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, that did not result in a red card, as well as after any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.).”
Newcastle United still on course to reach Champions League knockout rounds
The defeat at the Stade Velodrome saw Newcastle drop to eighth in the Champions League table, though they are set to drop out of the top eight once Wednesday’s matches have concluded.
The top eight advance automatically to the last 16, while clubs ranked ninth to 24th take part in a seeded play-off round.
Last season, 11 points were enough to secure a play-off spot, meaning United will likely only need two points from their final three games to advance.
Howe said: “It [the defeat to Marseille] leaves us a little bit bruised right at the second, but we'll come back. We've got some great games ahead.
“This competition is never going to be straightforward for us, it's never going to be plain sailing. It's the elite competition because you're going to be challenged and stretched and it will make us a better team for all these experiences. Today's a tough one to take but the lads are robust, they're experienced and we're ready to fight back.”