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Ange Postecoglou is three games away from Tottenham nightmare as suspension risks explained

Radu Dragusin of Tottenham Hotspur is sent off against Qarabag in the Europa League
-Credit: (Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images))


The games will be coming thick and fast for Tottenham Hotspur in the weeks ahead and suspensions will potentially play a part once again.

Spurs had a nightmare with suspensions at this stage of the season last time out under Ange Postecoglou with Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie all collecting red cards or bookings that led to missing matches. That came on top of a number of key injuries to players like Micky van de Ven and James Maddison and then Son Heung-min, Pape Matar Sarr and Bissouma heading off to the Asian Cup and Africa Cup of Nations respectively.

There is the potential of a suspension for Rodrigo Bentancur on the horizon following the FA charge over his comments regarding Son with the suggestion that a six to 12 games absence could be on the cards if the charge if proven.

Bentancur is also two yellow cards away from a Premier League suspension as it is, as he has collected three bookings in the first seven games of the campaign. Bissouma, Maddison, Udogie, Van de Ven and Dejan Kulusevski all sit on two and will need to watch their discipline in the weeks ahead to avoid hitting that five card limit and creating a nightmare for Postecoglou with suspensions all arriving at one time.

Yellow cards are normally wiped out following the 19th match of the Premier League season, which will not arrive until the turn of the year.

For all of the focus often placed on Romero's discipline, the Argentine has not picked up a single yellow card yet this season in any competition.

READ MORE: Why Cristian Romero was suspended for Argentina as Ange Postecoglou handed Tottenham boost

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When it comes to the Europa League, players are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions which did not result in a red card, as well as following any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc). However, only Bissouma has picked up a yellow card so far, with Radu Dragusin sent off against Qarabag.

Postecoglou will not want his players to compromise their competitive streak but he will also want to avoid the problems that hit them last season.

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