Leeds host Aston Villa on Friday evening, and the side might have been handed as much as a triple suspension blow had Samuel Saiz, Pablo Hernandez and Luke Ayling got booked against Barnsley.
The influential first XI trio were all on 4 yellow cards each prior to the game, and another one would have automatically ruled them out of yet another crucial clash.
A booking against the Villans won’t see them pickup an automatic suspension, as the F.A has confirmed that the punishment for 5 cautions ended after 19 games of the Championship season.
The Whites are currently 2 places and 3 points off the playoffs spot, and victory against the 4th placed team can help get their promotion charge back on track.
Saiz and Hernandez have contributed to 13 goals between them this term, while Ayling – the only Leeds player to have played every minute of the campaign thus far – has been solid rock at right-back as ever.
Having them for the game is definitely a huge boost, and manager Thomas Christiansen can count himself lucky for seeing the trio escape a booking that might have dent his side’s chances of victory.
