Joelinton of Newcastle United smiles during a training session at Newcastle United Training Centre on October 20, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Joelinton of Newcastle United smiles during a training session at Newcastle United Training Centre on October 20, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
UEFA rules mean the Newcastle United midfielder is one yellow card away from a one-match suspension.
Following a patchy start to their Premier League season, which continued via a 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, the Magpies return to European action searching for a second consecutive victory.
Eddie Howe’s side were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona in the opener at St James’ Park before winning 4-0 against Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels, which marked their biggest-ever victory in the competition.
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On matchday three, Newcastle are back on home turf, eyeing another three points that will only enhance their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Newcastle United star walking disciplinary tightrope
Heading into the game, midfielder Joelinton is walking a disciplinary tightrope after receiving a yellow card in both opening matches.
Accumulating three yellow cards in the league phase results in an one-match suspension, meaning the Brazilian must avoid a booking in his next six matches against Benfica, Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, PSV, Eindhoven and Paris Saint-Germain.
UEFA rules on yellow card suspensions read: “From the first match in the league phase, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, that did not result in a red card, as well as after any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.).”
Dan Burn is the only other Newcastle player to pick up a yellow card in the Champions League, which came against Barcelona.
Eddie Howe has already commented on Joelinton’s disciplinary record
Commenting previously on Joelinton’s disclinpary record, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: “I think you have to accept it to a degree but you can’t have a destroyer, ball-winner, brilliant at second balls, duels, tackler - that force that he is in the middle of the pitch and not accept sometimes he is going to mis-time tackles and sometimes he is going to pick up yellow card. You can’t have it both ways.
“Of course we don’t want to lose him to suspension, we will try and help him a bit but as I say, you can’t have it both ways.”
Eddie Howe considers NUFC midfield changes v Benfica
Joelinton could find themselves out of the starting XI against Benfica, with Howe considering rotating his side, particularly in midfield.
The Brazilian was hooked at half-time against Brighton and replaced by Lewis Miley, while Sandro Tonali has been struggling with a bug in recent days. As well as Miley, United also have £39million summer signing Jacob Ramsey to call on.
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Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Howe said: “Yeah, they [Miley & Ramsey} have Champions League experience, but they're also very, very good players.
“I think we've got a really strong midfield this year, so if one player is missing, it's an opportunity for a very good player to come in and grab theirs. So yeah, I thought both players did well when they came in on Saturday.”
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