For a moment, we were beginning to believe it would never happen.

But Jonathan Moss had other ideas, perhaps, like me, he had been silly enough to overlook Diego Costa in his Fantasy Premier League squad.

We can’t claim that the Chelsea striker’s fifth yellow card and resultant one-match ban sent shockwaves through the Fantasy Football community – we were already in the brace position.

However, having navigated 11 domestic matches without an indiscretion, it looked as though Costa v2 was capable of making the Gameweek 19 curfew.

Now we have to consider our options.

The impact of the suspension is perhaps amplified by the fixture involved; the Boxing Day meeting with AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge was potentially a platform for Costa to produce a big haul.

Then again, there was always the possibility that Antonio Conte would preserve the striker, if not in Gameweek 18, more likely for the visit of Stoke City that followed.

The Blues travel to Spurs in Gameweek 20 and, perched on the suspension tightrope; it would have been prudent for Conte to keep Costa out of the Potters clash and protected.

That’s perhaps a philosophical perspective on the current scenario – speculation to soften the blow.

Typically, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has a say in all this – he is now at the forefront of the Costa fall-out.

The Swede’s brace of goals at The Hawthorns has elevated his status and taken him to an impressive 54 points over his last six Gameweeks.

Even Costa, with his unerring consistency, pales in comparison, returning 42 over his last six starts.

The United striker had already built a case prior to his latest goals; he soared to the top of the “transfers in” column within an hour of Costa’s booking.

Clearly, with United facing Sunderland, Middlesbrough and West Ham before the FA Cup break and Jose Mourinho playing down fears the striker will be rested, Ibrahimovic appears poised to maintain his current output.

But for those who adopted Costa early, maximising his price increase, the decision is far from straightforward.

To move to Ibrahimovic now could force them to stick by the United striker beyond Costa’s return in Gameweek 19, should funds limit their option.

Arguably, Ibrahimovic deserves our faith, even if it does mean shedding Costa.

But benching the Chelsea man also has to be an option.

For many, that tactic will depend on the strength of their existing reserves or if they are willing to part with four points to strengthen in order to absorb Costa’s loss.

Certainly, with Ibrahimovic in the mood, the Old Trafford meeting with Sunderland looks a daunting prospect for his non-owners.

Similarly, should Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku deliver double-figures in their Gameweek 17 matches, they will doubtless attract some Costa traffic.

Kane visits Southampton while Costa sits in the stands, perhaps an unlikely venue for the Spurs striker to return heavily.

But Lukaku makes a trip to Leicester City who will be without both Christian Fuchs and Robert Huth in their already suspect defence. Surprisingly, the Everton striker is already fourth for transfers in before kicking a ball in Gameweek 17.

Costa has shed 50,000 owners at the time of writing. Clearly, an exodus of sorts is under way, presumably made up of those who can either avoid a big loss of funds or who are willing to suck it up, driven by the appeal of the Ibrahimovic form.

It will be interesting to see just how much of his 52% ownership will be lost and just how quickly Ibrahimovic can climb in the nine days until the next deadline.

But there is perhaps an added twist.

When you consider that Sergio Aguero’s return coincides with Costa’s in Gameweek 19, the option of climbing the Ibrahimovic rises as a means of earning precious extra funds offers an intriguing possibility.

Costa to Ibrahimovic and then to Aguero is just one potential route on the crossroads created by today’s events.