Crystal Palace handed double blow ahead of Newcastle Premier League game as Eddie Howe confirms 'relief'

Newcastle United will arrive at Selhurst Park tomorrow night with star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes no longer walking a tightrope of a possible two-match suspension if he picks up another yellow card. 

The former Lyon midfielder picked up his ninth yellow card of the season against Manchester City mid January. Since then, he's had to tread carefully in the last 11 games but he will no longer have to think of being suspended, at least at Selhurst, with a change in the rules. 

As per Premier League rules, a player who has been yellow carded 10 times either before or during their club’s 32nd league fixture is forced to a two-match suspension.

The recent 4-0 win over Champions League-chasing Tottenham Hotspur was Newcastle’s 32nd match, meaning the rule no longer applies. The threshold now increases to 15 bookings in 38 games, which results in a three-match ban. 

This allows Guimaraes to play with freedom at Selhurst which will be a blow to the Eagles who have found form coming into this game. Speaking recently about the rules around suspension Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said.

 “A big relief, for him and for us,” Howe told NewcastleWorld. “We had a meeting a long time ago and he promised me he wouldn’t get booked, and I didn’t believe a word of it to be honest!.”

Another forward who was at risk of being suspended was Anthony Gordon on eight yellow cards for the season but he will now see his threshold increased to 15 bookings.

Palace looking to build on from impressive week 

Crystal Palace are flying after beating Liverpool at Anfield and following that with another impressive 5-2 win against West Ham at the intimidating Selhurst Park. 

They face a different test in Newcastle who are at their best when disrupting parties. The Magpies have their European ambitions and will be wary of Palace’s new-found strength under Oliver Glasner.

Forward Michael Olise and midfielder Eberechi Eze were brilliant and toyed with West Ham all afternoon over the weekend, if they’re up for it again, this could be another spectacle of a football match.