Russell Martin will miss his place on the bench for Southampton’s League Cup match against Stoke City due to his third yellow card of the season. Unlike players, who face suspension after accumulating five yellow cards, managers are given a three-card threshold within the first 19 games, specifically for dissent. Martin’s bookings, within just nine matches, suggest he may be feeling the pressure, although his absence from the bench shouldn’t disrupt communication with his coaching staff.
In addition to Martin, several Southampton players are also close to facing suspensions due to accumulated yellow cards:
1. **Flynn Downes**: With four yellow cards, he’s one booking away from a suspension. Martin is likely to rest him against Stoke to ensure he’s available for the Premier League clash with Everton, but he’ll be on thin ice against Everton as another yellow would see him miss the Wolves game.
2. **Adam Lallana, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Tyler Dibling**: Each has three yellow cards. They’ll be available for the crucial games against Everton and Wolves, barring any bookings or red cards against Stoke.
3. **Mateus Fernandes, Yukinari Sugawara, Adam Armstrong, and Jan Bednarek**: All have two yellow cards, meaning they could potentially make it through the 19-game threshold without suspension, but it could still be a close call.
4. **Players with a single yellow**: Jack Stephens, Ben Brereton Diaz, Charlie Taylor, Kyle Walker-Peters, Maxwel Cornet, Ross Stewart, and Ryan Manning. Most of these players have had limited game time, except Walker-Peters and possibly Stephens, who might feature more if Martin continues in charge.
Given the risk of yellow card suspensions, Martin’s lineup against Stoke City will likely focus on preserving players for Premier League duties, particularly against Everton and Wolves. Downes is unlikely to feature, and Martin may also rest Lallana, Harwood-Bellis, and Dibling to avoid risking their availability in the upcoming crucial league fixtures.
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