How many matches Joeltinton, Schar and Co must negotiate to avoid Newcastle United ban

Newcastle United stars must walk a disciplinary tightrope for the forseeable future if they are to avoid picking up a one-match Premier League ban in the coming weeks.

The Magpies will be without defender Dan Burn when they resume action against West Ham United after the international break, after the Blyth-born defender picked up his fifth booking of the season in the 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest. Newcastle were aggrieved at the decision as the felt the play should have been stopped earlier for a foul on Tino Livramento.

It means Lloyd Kelly could start against the Hammers, with Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles still recovering from ACL surgery, and Emil Krafth sidelined by a broken collarbone. Burn will be able to return for the game at Crystal Palace on November 30.

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However, Eddie Howe is fully aware that he could face a similar situation, with two players currently on four yellow cards. Midfielder Joelinton and centre-half Fabian Schar are both just one booking away from a one-match ban.

There is a cut-off point to avoid a ban - but the bad news is it is still some way in the distance. Players have to negotiate the first 19 games of the campaign (half the Premier League season) before they can rest easy. Anyone who picks up a fifth booking from gameweek 20 onwards will not be banned.

That means United players must negotiate a further eight games before the threat of a one-match ban disappears. That takes us into 2025 with Newcastle's 20th game at Spurs on January 4. Therefore the final game in which players could be banned is the match at Manchester United on Monday, December 30.

Any player who collects 10 bookings before the 32-game mark will receive a two-match ban, with 15 bookings over a season resulting in a three-match ban. A total of 20 bookings would result in a a misconduct charge, although the current record for yellow cards in one season is 14.

While Schar and Joelinton sit on four bookings, United also have Lewis Hall and Sandro Tonali on three yellow cards, with Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff on two. Bookings are competition specific, so Carabao and FA Cup games do not count towards this total.