Two vital Leeds United players near suspension cut-off ahead of table-topping Leicester City clash

Ethan Ampadu.
Leeds United v Bristol City. SkyBet Championship. Elland Road.
Picture by Bruce Rollinson
7 October 2023. — Ethan Ampadu. Leeds United v Bristol City. SkyBet Championship. Elland Road. Picture by Bruce Rollinson 7 October 2023.

Leeds United pair Illan Meslier and Ethan Ampadu have accrued the most yellow cards in Daniel Farke’s squad so far this season.

The Whites duo have each picked up three cautions from match officials during Leeds’ first 12 matches of the 2023/24 Championship campaign. Should either player find themselves booked on Wednesday night against Stoke City, and then again versus Huddersfield Town this weekend, they will be forced to serve a one-match suspension when Leeds visit Leicester City on Friday, November 3.

Farke will be keen to have as many key first-team players available to him for that fixture, not least two players in Meslier and Ampadu who have played every minute of league action this season.

The current rules stipulate that any player accumulating a certain number of yellow cards is to face disciplinary action in the form of match bans according to the following principles:

– Five yellows accumulated before match week 19 results in a one-match ban.

– Ten yellows accumulated by week 32 will result in a two-match ban.

– Fifteen yellows by week 38 means a three-match ban.

– Twenty yellows in a season can result in the Regulatory Commission punishing the player in a manner that they deem to be most fitting.

Ampadu and Meslier are currently on three, while Crysencio Summerville, Joe Rodon, Georginio Rutter, Jamie Shackleton and Luke Ayling have all been shown two yellows and therefore not at risk of missing the Leicester game due to suspension, unless they are sent off in the interim two matches.

As a team, Leeds have been one of the division’s most well-disciplined sides, picking up 21 yellows and one red card in 12 matches. Only Middlesbrough have accrued fewer bookings, while West Bromwich Albion are also on 21 yellows, but have not been shown a red card yet this term.

Leicester’s Jannik Vestergaard has already served a one-match suspension this season for five yellow cards, but key Foxes duo Harry Winks and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are both on four bookings as the Leeds fixture looms, which currently pits 1st against 3rd in the Championship table.