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Newcastle United latest news: One Magpies player has been handed a one-match Champions League ban.
Newcastle United defeated Qarabag 6-1 in Baku to all-but secure their place in the Champions League Round of 16.
Jacob Murphy’s deflected strike in the second half added a sixth for the Magpies on a night where four goals from Anthony Gordon in a breathtaking first-half sent Eddie Howe’s side into the break five goals to the good. The other goal in the first 45 minutes was scored by Malick Thiaw as he rose tall in the box to head Kieran Trippier’s enticing cross back where it came from and into the far corner.
That was Thiaw’s first-ever Champions League goal for Newcastle United, however, he won’t get the chance to add to that tally in the second-leg. That’s because, during the second-half, he was shown a yellow card by Norwegian referee Espen Ekas.
That was the third time that Thiaw had been shown a yellow card in the Champions League this season, meaning he will now serve a one-match ban. Fortunately for the Magpies, that means he will miss the second-leg of their clash against Qarabag and thus be free to face whoever they draw in Round 16.
Many supporters have viewed this as a blessing, but Eddie Howe isn’t convinced on that theory as he will now have to deal without one of his key players on Tuesday night. Asked about Thiaw’s booking, Howe said: “No, I don't see it as a blessing. I see that as a negative because we're really stretched in that position. Of course, it gives us no debate.
“We have to give Malick a rest. He's probably going to need that for a while.
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“In some senses, that could be a positive thing for him, but I don't think it's a positive for the team.”
Yellow card suspensions in UEFA competitions do not carry over into domestic football, meaning that Thiaw will be available to feature against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday night (8pm kick-off).
Newcastle United duo ‘at risk’ of Champions League ban
Whilst Thiaw will sit out of the return leg at St James’ Park, two of his teammates will be forced to walk a disciplinary tightrope. Both Joelinton and Dan Burn have been shown two yellow cards this season in the Champions League and need to avoid another booking on Tuesday night if they want to feature in the first-leg of the Round of 16.
Burn partnered Thiaw for the full 90 minutes in Baku, whilst Joelinton was a second-half substitute as he made his return from injury. Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Aaron Ramsdale, Joe Willock, Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon, meanwhile, are the only other Magpies players who have been shown a yellow card in the Champions League this season.
Those players would have to be booked a further two times in order to face a ban. Yellow cards are wiped after the quarter-final stage to ensure players cannot miss the final because of an accumulation of bookings.
Chelsea or Barcelona await in the last-16 if the Magpies, as expected, finish the job against Qarabag on Tuesday night on Tyneside.
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