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Manchester United are facing up to the prospect of a Kobbie Mainoo suspension in the near future.
Mainoo was a fitness doubt heading into the Premier League match-up with Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon. The England international was withdrawn in the first half of the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last week and there were concerns he had suffered an injury during that game.
Despite missing the draw with Porto in the Europa League in midweek, Mainoo recovered to feature for United at Villa Park as he was included by manager Erik ten Hag in their starting XI. The 19-year-old was replaced by Casemiro in the second half ahead of October's international break.
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However, during the first half, Mainoo received a yellow card from referee Rob Jones for a foul on Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans. The booking was Mainoo's fourth in the Premier League this season, while he moves dangerously close to a suspension.
Players who amass five yellow cards across the first 19 Premier League fixtures are handed a one-game ban. Given that Mainoo already has four across seven matches, the next 12 will see the midfielder walk a disciplinary tightrope until the 19th match passes or he receives a fifth and decisive yellow card.
United are not back in Premier League action until Saturday, October 19 when they will host Brentford at Old Trafford. That will be the start of another hectic schedule that will also include top-flight matches against West Ham, Chelsea and Leicester City before the next international break in November.
Ten Hag's side will also be in Carabao Cup fourth round action when they meet Leicester City this month, while there are also Europa League fixtures to manage against Fenerbahce and PAOK in the coming weeks.
Mainoo (four) has totted-up the most Premier League bookings for United this season. Their centre-backs Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are both on two.