Tony Pulis will need to reshuffle his defensive options after two of Stoke’s regular back-four fell foul of the referee’s wrath against Liverpool in Boxing Day. Ryan Shawcross and Geoff Cameron will now sit out the Potters’ home clash against Southampton after accruing their fifth cautions of the campaign in Wednesday’s 3-1 win:
The duo are two of four players who are set to serve an automatic one-match ban in Gameweek 20. Villa’s Fabian Delph and Newcastle centre-half Mike Williamson are also sidelined against Wigan and Arsenal respectively.
While those four are unavailable, a quartet of new protagonists appeared on the Suspension Tightrope after receiving their fourth cautions of the campaign in midweek. Yaya Toure, Bradley Johnson, Jean Beausejour and Maynor Figueroa will all need to be on their best behaviour this upcoming weekend, as will 27 other players, including the likes of Robin Van Persie, Michu, Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe, Adel Taarabt and Kevin Nolan; once Gameweek 20 is out the way, though, the limit is then extended to 10 yellows. So far, a quartet on players lead the race for that dubious honour – Luis Suarez, James Perch, Craig Gardner and Angel Rangel all have seven bookings apiece.
Both Darron Gibson and Carlton Cole are available this weekend, however. The FA have overturned three-match bans handed out to the pair in West Ham’s Gameweek 18 home clash with Everton – good news for those Fantasy managers eyeing up Cole as a possible double Gameweek punt; the 4.9 priced forward has produced two goals, an assist and six bonus points in four games since deputising for the injured Andy Carroll.
Elsewhere, Cheick Tiote returns for Newcastle’s trip to Arsenal after sitting out their 4-3 defeat at Old Trafford, while Marouane Fellaini serves the final fixture of his three-match ban as Everton welcome Chelsea to Goodison Park.
