The Suspension Tightrope – Rash

A couple of midfield protagonists are set to sit on the sidelines after accruing their fifth booking of the season last weekend. Paul Scholes and Mark Noble will both miss out as West Ham travel to Old Trafford on Wednesday evening, with the latter’s absence particularly sore for his side, given he has started every league game so far for the Hammers.

The tightrope welcomes two new contenders after the weekend’s round of matches. Cheick Tiote may have been injured for much of the season but his penchant for picking up yellows remains unquenched – the Ivorian’s caution at St Mary’s yesterday take his tally to four yellows in all competitions ahead of Newcastle’s trip to Stoke on Wednesday. Wigan’s James McArthur fell foul of the ref in his side’s 3-2 win over Reading on Saturday and now balances precariously as the Latics prepare to welcome City to the DW.

Luis Suarez and Michu continue to avoid that fifth yellow which would earn them an automatic ban. With three strong home games in the next five, Suarez looks primed for significant Fantasy attention once again; his owners will be crossing their fingers he stays out of the ref’s notebook against Spurs on Wednesday, bearing in mind he then plays host to Southampton at the weekend.

Those players on four yellows have until New Year until the five-card amnesty kicks in. Basically, if they can avoid another booking in this calendar year, they will then be exempt from the customary one-match ban and receive no more than a warning regarding their future conduct. The limit then moves to 10 yellows, which would earn the guilty party a two-match ban. Most culpable so far are Ahmed El Ahmadi, Craig Gardner and Angel Rangel, who lead the way on six yellow cards apiece.

Having served out a one-match ban in Everton’s draw with Norwich, Marouane Fellaini is available for selection as the Toffees host Arsenal, while Fabricio Coloccini will be welcomed back by Alan Pardew as injury-hit Newcastle make their way to Stoke.

Brede Hangeland and Emmanuel Adebayor are both set to skip the second match of their respective three-game bans this midweek.