Newcastle United handed major boost because of Premier League rule ahead of Aston Villa clash

Newcastle United can breathe a sigh of relief with Joelinton no longer at risk of a two-match suspension.

Premier League rules state that any player shown 10 yellow cards in their team’s opening 32 matches is automatically handed a two-game ban. So, when Joelinton was shown his ninth booking of the campaign on matchday 24 - a 2-1 defeat to Fulham - a ban appeared inevitable.

However, the Brazilian has somewhat defied the odds. Joelinton missed three games with a knee issue but since returning has gone five matches without being booked. Wednesday’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace was the Magpies’ 32nd game, meaning Joelinton is on a clean slate for the visit to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Joelinton avoids Premier League ban

“Just goes to show he can do it, huh? Of course, that was always in the back of our mind, hence why we've brought him off in the last two games probably earlier than what he normally would come off,” said Newcastle assistant coach Jason Tindall.

“But testament to Joe because it's difficult when you're such a physical player like Joe to go that long without receiving a booking, it's difficult. But credit to him, and thankfully, now we've avoided that deadline, and Joe is free to be Joelinton.”

The disciplinary threshold now increases to 15 bookings, which equates to a three-match ban. Now, unless Joelinton picks up a yellow card in each of Newcastle’s remaining six matches, then he doesn’t have to worry.

So in other words, this is permission for Joelinton to go mental again, as long as it means no red cards! Yep, they still count..

Given the 28-year-old’s aggressive and combative nature, you might be surprised to hear that the 28-year-old has never been shown a sent off for Newcastle since joining from Hoffenheim for £40million in the summer of 2019.

He did miss the 4-0 win at Ipswich Town in December, but that was because he accumulated five yellow cards before the 19-game cut-off point.

Speaking about Joelinton’s absence, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe accepted: “You can’t have a destroyer, ball-winner, brilliant at second balls, duels, tackler - that force that he is in the middle of the pitch and not accept sometimes he is going to mis-time tackles and sometimes he is going to pick up yellow card. You can’t have it both ways.

“Of course we don’t want to lose him to suspension, we will try and help him a bit but as I say, you can’t have it both ways.”

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