Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe handed triple team selection concern ahead of Sunderland
Newcastle face a key disciplinary dilemma before the Wear-Tyne derby, with three players close to a one-game ban
Newcastle are facing a significant disciplinary dilemma ahead of next month’s Wear Tyne derby, with three key players walking a tightrope before the Premier League meeting with Sunderland.
Dan Burn, Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes all head into Tuesday night’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur on three yellow cards for the season. Under Premier League rules, any player who receives five bookings in their club’s first 19 league fixtures must serve a one-match suspension.
Those cautions do not carry across to the FA Cup or EFL Cup. It means that Burn, Joelinton and Guimaraes must avoid a booking against Spurs to ensure they are available for the derby. Burn has already served a suspension this season after his red card against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. If either three players are booked against Tottenham, they will have to come through the Burnley game without another caution.
Howe’s side visit the Stadium of Light on Sunday, 14 December for what will be the first Premier League derby between the teams since 2015-16, and only the second competitive meeting in more than nine years. All three players featured in Newcastle’s FA Cup win on Wearside in January 2024, when Joelinton’s cross was diverted into the net by Dan Ballard. If the trio come through unscathed against Spurs, they would still need to avoid a red card against Burnley at the weekend to guarantee their place in Howe’s squad for the derby.
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Newcastle’s situation mirrors concerns on Wearside, where Sunderland have their own suspension issues to manage. Granit Xhaka is on four bookings and would miss the derby if he is cautioned against Liverpool midweek or Manchester City next weekend. Noah Sadiki is also one yellow card away from a ban after playing the full 90 minutes in Sunderland’s comeback win over Bournemouth.
Newcastle’s victory over Everton on Saturday ensured they finished the weekend four points behind Sunderland in the Premier League table. Howe’s side face Spurs and Burnley this week, while Sunderland travel to Liverpool and Manchester City in a challenging run before Derby Day.
What did Régis Le Bris say after Bournemouth?
Régis Le Bris hailed a breakthrough performance from Enzo Le Fée as the 25-year-old played a starring role in Sunderland's comeback win over Bournemouth.
Le Bris moved Le Fée back into his favoured central midfield position as he looked to get Sunderland on the front foot after a disappointing defeat to Fulham last weekend, a role that he has so far struggled to produce his best form in. Le Fée produced a superb display at the Stadium of Light, scoring a penalty and assisting Brian Brobbey's winner as the Black Cats moved temporarily back into the top four of the Premier League.
For Le Bris, it was vindication for his belief that his former Lorient star could deliver in the heart of the action. "Yeah, I'm really pleased because it was my belief from the beginning," Le Bris said. "I think he can be really strong in this league, for this club, in the middle of the pitch. But he's struggled so far in this position, sometimes it's a question of confidence, of flow of the game. We didn't find a solution so far, but today it was the case. So I'm happy for him and happy for us."