Last season, Bruno Guimaraes completed what many Toon fans thought was nigh-on impossible.
During the 23/24 Premier League season, the Brazil ace managed to go 17 consecutive games whilst sat on nine yellow cards and on the verge of suspension – making himself available to Eddie Howe when he needed him most.
And now, facing a ban himself, another Magpie midfielder is one game away from escaping a two-game ban and no more suspensions for the rest of the season.
Joelinton close to great escape
Sat on nine yellows so far from 27 appearances, Joelinton is just 90 minutes away from avoiding a two-game ban.
The current Premier League rules state anyone who picks up 10 yellows in the first 32 games faces a two-game ban, but from gameweek 33 onwards, this yellow card tally is reset.
This means that when we host Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, the 28-year-old merely has to avoid receiving a booking at St James’ Park to be available for the remaining six games of the season.
Should he receive a yellow, however, the consequences could be huge: Joelinton would subsequently miss both games against Villa and Ipswich.
For the former in particular, this could be a nightmare considering the immense form that Rogers, Onana and Tielemans have been in, coupled with how rusty some of our backup midfield options have been as of late.
Burn now safe
In even better news, Dan Burn avoiding a yellow against Manchester United on Sunday means he is guaranteed to escape a two-game ban as well.
Having been sat on eight yellows since the trip to West Ham in early March, the boy from Blyth had to get booked vs Man Utd and Palace to be punished with a suspension.
This will be met with some relief by Howe and Tindall, with both Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles still out, and Lloyd Kelly loaned to Juventus, there isn’t tremendous depth at centre-back.
But with Anthony Gordon slowly working himself back to full fitness, a fully fit midfield, and the Toon in fine form, the squad is otherwise in the best shape it’s been in some time.
“Rusty” is being polite when you talk about our back up midfielders, Willock has in snatches shown something.
It is difficult to get into a rhythm when you aren’t playing regularly but we are often told that these players are ready to step in when needed.
Elliott Anderson used to show something with plenty of energy when asked to come on we have no one who is that busy.
Let’s hope Joelinton can keep a cool head because there is no doubt Palace will try and wind him up tonight as Urgarte did on Sunday.
He needs a serious talking to before tonight’s game.
Joseph(Quote)
I find it rather ironic that the likes of Jasper build up the “possible bans” line because they are desperate for stories, then they buildit up again when nobody gets banned.
Daveys **** mate(Quote)