Nearly 40 Premier League stars are on the verge of being granted Christmas off due to the looming threat of a one-match ban.
Boxing Day football is an iconic part of the English top-flight calendar but not for the players who have to finish festivities early.
Cucurella has served a ban for five yellow cards and is now suspended again
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Cucurella has served a ban for five yellow cards and is now suspended againCredit: Getty
A full Premier League gameweek gets underway on December 26, which means clubs will need to train and / or travel on Christmas.
However, that may not be the case for a select uninjured few who receive a yellow card in this weekend's Gameweek 17 fixtures.
Any player who accumulates five cautions inside the first 19 Premier League games of the season will be suspended for one match.
Seven stars will be available again for GW17 after serving that type of ban, including Alexis Mac Allister, Pedro Neto, Emerson, Yves Bissouma, Calvin Bassey, Boubakary Soumare, and Joao Gomes.
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The next milestone that warrants a suspension is 10 yellow cards, so all of the players above won't miss Boxing Day fitness permitting.
Similarly, Brazilians Andreas Pereira and Joelinton headline the absentees from the final pre-Christmas Premier League games.
The Fulham and Newcastle duo are ruled out for GW17 for five bookings, alongside Crystal Palace's Daniel Munoz.
As it stands, 39 men remain one yellow away from also hitting that threshold, which would now sideline them for Boxing Day.
This still includes Rayan Ait-Nouri, despite his post-match sending-off in Wolves' 2-1 defeat to Ipswich last weekend as neither his second yellow nor resulting red count towards the suspension threshold.
Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka are safe on three yellow cards, but both England stars have Chelsea and Arsenal teammates on four.
Nunez moved to within one yellow from a ban against Fulham
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Nunez moved to within one yellow from a ban against FulhamCredit: AFP
Liverpool could also be without Gravenberch
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Liverpool could also be without GravenberchCredit: AFP
Blues duo Nicolas Jackson and Robert Sanchez are only one caution away from a ban, so too is Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus.
League leaders Liverpool are also sweating over potential absentees, which may lead them to be extra careful over Ibrahima Konate.
The Frenchman was hailed asthe best defender in the Premier League before his injury against Real Madrid and would have to serve a suspension if he picks up his fifth yellow before the Boxing Day reset.
Ryan Gravenberch has been one of the standout midfield players this season, but similarly, he and Darwin Nunez are also on four yellows.
Only two Premier League clubs can rest easy this weekend, with neither Brentford nor Fulham at risk of losing a player to five bookings.
Here is the full list of the 39 players currently on four yellow cards...
Vardy may or may not be having a party
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Vardy may or may not be having a partyCredit: Getty
Who is close to a ban?
Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal) 4
Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) 4
Lewis Cook (Bournemouth) 4
Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth) 4
Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) 4
Lewis Dunk (Brighton) 4
Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton) 4
Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea) 4
Robert Sánchez (Chelsea) 4
Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace) 4
Michael Keane (Everton) 4
Ashley Young (Everton) 4
Liam Delap (Ipswich) 4
Sam Morsy (Ipswich) 4
Jordan Ayew (Leicester) 4
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester) 4
Oliver Skipp (Leicester) 4
Jamie Vardy (Leicester) 4
Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) 4
Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool) 4
Darwin Nunez (Liverpool) 4
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) 4
Harry Maguire (Manchester United) 4
Fabian Schar (Newcastle) 4
Sandro Tonali (Newcastle) 4
Nicolas DomÃnguez (Nottingham Forest) 4
Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest) 4
Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest) 4
Adam Armstrong (Southampton) 4
Mateus Fernandes (Southampton) 4
Adam Lallana (Southampton) 4
Micky van de Ven (Tottenham) 4
Lucas Paqueta (West Ham) 4
Guido Rodriguez (West Ham) 4
Carlos Soler (West Ham) 4
Tomas Soucek (West Ham) 4
Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves) 4
Toti Gomes (Wolves) 4
Mario Lemina (Wolves) 4