Newcastle United are facing up to life without all-action midfielder Joelinton as he begins to serves a two-match suspension in Sunday’s meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Brazilian star picked up his tenth booking of the season when he was cautioned for a late challenge on Manchester City’s Ruben Dias in the early stages of United’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of the reigning Premier League champions on Saturday lunchtime.
Speaking after the game, Magpies manager Howe said of Joelinton’s ban: “It was probably inevitable it would come, although we’re desperately disappointed that it was today, given the two games we’ve got before the international break, that’s going to be a long absence for him.
“I thought it was a harsh booking for him and he plays on the edge, he’s a fierce competitor, I thought he played very well again today. We’re certainly going to miss him.”
Joelinton is not the only Premier League player that is serving a two-match suspension after Fulham’s Joao Palhinha’s joined him on ten bookings when he was cautioned in his side’s recent 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. A whole host of other players across the league are rapidly approaching the threshold for a suspension - including one other Newcastle United star.
Any players who are booked five times within their club’s first 19 games are banned for one game. If a player picks up a fifth booking after their club’s half-way point they will not be suspsneded but any stars booked 10 times before 32 matches will be banned for two fixtures.
NewcastleWorld takes a look at which Premier League players are close to a suspension between now and the end of the season.
Speaking after the game, Magpies manager Howe said of Joelinton’s ban: “It was probably inevitable it would come, although we’re desperately disappointed that it was today, given the two games we’ve got before the international break, that’s going to be a long absence for him.