MusaNewcastle United have been handed another frustrating setback following their disappointing 1-0 defeat against Everton, with Jacob Ramsey set to miss the club’s upcoming Premier League fixture after receiving a red card at St James’ Park.
The midfielder was dismissed during the closing stages of Monday night’s encounter after receiving two yellow cards, leaving Eddie Howe with another selection headache ahead of Newcastle’s trip to face Fulham.
Although Newcastle were desperately searching for an equaliser after falling behind to Thierno Barry’s second-half goal, Ramsey’s dismissal made their difficult evening even worse.
The former Aston Villa midfielder had been involved in the closing stages of the contest when referee John Brooks decided to show him a second yellow card following a challenge on Harrison Armstrong.
The decision meant Newcastle had to finish the match with 10 players, adding further frustration to an evening in which they failed to find a way past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Jacob Ramsey faces automatic one-match suspension
Under the Premier League’s disciplinary regulations, a player dismissed after receiving two yellow cards in the same match is automatically suspended for the next domestic first-team fixture.
This means Ramsey will miss Newcastle United’s upcoming Premier League meeting with Fulham on November 7.
Importantly, the midfielder is not facing the standard three-match suspension associated with certain straight-red-card offences, such as violent conduct or serious foul play.
His dismissal against Everton came through two separate cautions rather than a direct red card.
Consequently, the one-match suspension represents the applicable punishment, barring any separate disciplinary development.
Eddie Howe faces another selection headache
Ramsey’s absence is an unwanted development for Howe, particularly with Newcastle attempting to recover from a disappointing run of results.
The midfielder arrived at Newcastle with expectations of strengthening the team’s options in the middle of the pitch, and his availability could have been useful as the Magpies attempt to respond against Fulham.
His suspension means Howe will have to consider alternative options when selecting his midfield for the trip to Craven Cottage.
Newcastle cannot afford another disappointing performance, especially after failing to capitalise on their home advantage against Everton.
The defeat also highlighted some of the problems facing Howe’s team, with Newcastle struggling to turn their possession and attacking opportunities into goals.
Everton defeat leaves Newcastle with plenty to answer for
The 1-0 defeat against Everton was particularly frustrating because Newcastle had opportunities to get something from the contest.
Thierno Barry scored the decisive goal in the second half after a costly goalkeeping error, leaving the home supporters disappointed.
Newcastle subsequently pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Everton defended resolutely to protect their advantage.
There was also controversy surrounding Fabian Schär’s challenge on Barry inside the penalty area, with Everton manager David Moyes unhappy that his side were not awarded a spot-kick.
However, the biggest late talking point for Newcastle was Ramsey’s dismissal, which ensured that the Magpies ended the evening with another problem to address.
When will Jacob Ramsey return?
Provided there are no further disciplinary complications, Ramsey is expected to become available again after serving his one-match suspension against Fulham.
His absence will therefore be limited to Newcastle’s November 7 Premier League fixture.
For Howe, the immediate priority will be finding an effective replacement and ensuring his team responds positively after the Everton disappointment.
Newcastle supporters will be hoping that Ramsey’s suspension does not become another distraction during a period when their team desperately needs consistency.
The Magpies have already suffered a frustrating evening at St James’ Park, and losing another midfield option for the Fulham encounter is certainly not the response their supporters wanted.
Musa
