Newcastle United pair Sandro Tonali and Fabian Schar are just two games away from avoiding a one-match ban.

As per Premier League rules, any player cautioned five times in their team’s opening 19 league games must serve a one-match suspension. Both Tonali and Schar have been booked four times this campaign.

The Magpies host Aston Villa on Boxing Day and travel Manchester United this weekend before the disciplinary threshold increases to 10 yellow cards in 32 matches. If either player was booked against Villa, they’d miss the Man United clash while a yellow card at Old Trafford would result in them missing the visit to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, January 4.

Schar has avoided a caution in his last seven games, while Tonali has gone three matches without a booking. Losing either player would be a major blow for Eddie Howe’s side as they look to continue their march towards the European qualification places,

Newcastle will welcome back Joelinton against Unai Emery’s side after he missed the 4-0 victory at Ipswich Town for reaching five yellow cards. Dan Burn also served a one-match suspension at the end of November.

Meanwhile, Bruno Guimaraes and Lewis Hall are two bookings away from a ban while Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff, Jacob Murphy, Lloyd Kelly and Nick Pope are on two bookings in total.

Any player who accumulates 10 yellow cards in their club’s opening 32 matches is handed a two-match suspension. Reaching 15 bookings results in a three-match ban but no player has ever been cautioned that amount of times during a single Premier League season.