Three Nottingham Forest players are walking a suspension tightrope as the season nears its World Cup break.
Joe Worrall was booked when he came off the bench as the Reds changed system in the second half of their 1-0 victory over Liverpool. That was his fourth yellow card of the Premier League campaign, having also been cautioned against Newcastle United, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.
As a result, the 25-year-old joined fellow defenders Steve Cook and Scott McKenna in being on the brink of picking up a one-match ban. Head coach Steve Cooper will no doubt be hoping that doesn’t lead to a scenario where two of the trio pass that threshold in the same game.
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As stated on the Premier League website, any player who earns five bookings from the first 19 Premier League matches gets hits with a one-match suspension in the same competition. Yellow cards are not carried over to the Carabao Cup or FA Cup. Players who accumulate 10 yellow cards in Premier League matches, up to and including their team's 32nd fixture, will serve a two-match ban in the competition.
The Reds have played 13 games so far. Their 19th Premier League fixture will be at home to Leicester City on January 14.
Worrall has found himself out of the starting XI in recent games as Cooper has switched to a four-man defence with the aim of tightening up at the back. Cook and McKenna have held down their places in the side, although both will be eager to put last weekend's dismal 5-0 defeat at Arsenal behind them.
Forest have home league games against Brentford and Crystal Palace to come before the season pauses later this month. Cooper is still without centre-back Moussa Niakhate, who was on crutches when watching his teammates in action at the City Ground last time out as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
If the Reds head coach does need to look at tinkering his defensive line-up at some point - depending on any suspension situation - in addition to recalling Worrall to the side, he does have some other options. Willy Boly has made just one appearance since his deadline day move, while Loic Bade is yet to make his debut. Giulian Biancone’s versatility could also come in useful, and Loic Mbe Soh remains on the books, having been linked with a switch to Fenerbahce in the summer.
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