Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo is in immediate danger of missing games against Arsenal and Tottenham next month.
Caicedo has been ever-present for Chelsea in the Premier League this season, starting all 27 matches thus far, but that record is under serious threat after being booked in the 4-0 win over Southampton on Tuesday night.
That was the midfielder’s ninth yellow card of the campaign which means he is one away from serving a ban.
Under The FA’s rules, players who receive a total of 10 yellow cards in their side’s first 32 Premier League matches receive a two-match suspension. Yellow cards are not carried over to the EFL Cup or FA Cup.
Caicedo being at risk of a suspension could hand Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca a team selection dilemma going into next weekend’s clash against former club Leicester City.
If the 23-year-old is booked against the Foxes, he would miss the trip to the Emirates Stadium on March 16 and then Tottenham’s visit to Stamford Bridge in his side’s first fixture after the international break.
The concern is that Caicedo has been booked in five of his last six Premier League outings – including the last three in a row – so Maresca will need to have a word with his midfielder, perhaps advising him to watch his step with regards to tackling and dissent.
Which Chelsea players are close to a suspension?
As mentioned above, the threshold for a Premier League suspension has been raised to 10 bookings after 32 matches. Previously it was five bookings after 19 matches.
Therefore, Chelsea’s match against Ipswich Town on April 12 is the final game in which suspensions will be handed out for a 10th yellow card.
Though, Caicedo is the only Chelsea player in immediate danger as he needs to avoid a booking against Leicester, Arsenal, Tottenham, Brentford and Ipswich to escape a two-game ban.
Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, Wesley Fofana and Pedro Neto are all on six yellow cards.
