Newcastle United star cleared for Carabao Cup final as ban threat lingers for duo

Newcastle United star Joelinton is free to play in the Carabao Cup final after being steered away from danger by Kieran Trippier at West Ham last night.

Mexico international Edson Álvarez was certainly on the wind-up at the London Stadium as he ruffled Bruno Guimaraes then Joelinton during the first half of the 1-0 victory in the capital. Had it not been for Trippier's smart intervention, who knows whether Michael Salisbury would have dipped into his pocket and made things nervous for United.

Joelinton is no stranger to boiling over, but the mood was kept cordial despite the best attempts of Alvarez. Not that Newcastle did not play the game on the edge at times, with some crunch challenges going in on the Hammers before Bruno Guimaraes' winner.

In fairness, head coach Eddie Howe had asked his team to play with intensity and not worry about suspensions which underlined the importance of the game given Anthony Gordon's ban for Sunday's clash with Liverpool at Wembley. The concerns aren't over for Newcastle yet though as far as the threat of a pair of Premier League suspensions are concerned.

Blyth lad Dan Burn was issued with a yellow card with six minutes left for a foul on Ollie Scarles which means that both the 6ft 7in defender now sits precariously on nine cautions like Joelinton. If either are booked in the next four top-flight fixtures they will be on the end of a two-match suspension.

It means that both Burn and Joelinton must stay out of trouble in the Premier League until April 19 for the trip to Aston Villa. Howe did not complain about the nature of his team's physical style of play last night and reflected after the game: "It would be easy for the players to be distracted but they were present. It was one of our best wins of the season, not in terms of performance but desire and heart.

"All the big ingredients you need to be a successful team. You need to win when the game is tight and find a way to get over the line. We defended really well after the first three minutes which were a bit scary. Deserved win."