Sunderland favourite banned from Newcastle United clash - but duo avoid Premier League suspension
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Newcastle United latest news: Sunderland will be without midfielder Luke O’Nien next weekend after he was sent off against Manchester City.
Sunderland have received a major boost ahead of their clash with Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light next weekend following news that both Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki will both be available to face Newcastle United.
The Black Cats, who will begin that game above their fierce rivals in the Premier League table, will have the services of both midfielders next weekend after they avoided being booked during their 3-0 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday. Both players had sat on four bookings heading to the Etihad Stadium and were at risk of missing the Wear-Tyne derby had they been shown a yellow card in Manchester.
Both were named in Regis Le Bris’ starting XI at the Etihad Stadium and played 72 minutes before being substituted by the Black Cats boss. Sunderland were already three goals down at that point, hinting that Le Bris possibly already had one eye on next weekend’s game.
Speaking post-match about the yellow card situation impacting his team, Le Bris said: “It was part of the problem today. We played with two midfielders at 60-70% intensity which was not useful but after a week like that it was important to have in mind that we have an important derby at home next week."
Sunderland favourite banned v Newcastle United
The Black Cats, though, won’t have Luke O’Nien available next week after he was sent off in the final moments of Saturday’s game. O’Nien made his first appearance of the season in midweek, coming on as a substitute during their draw at Anfield.
And he again started on the bench at the Etihad Stadium, replacing Trai Hume in the 88th minute. However, just 5 minutes later, he was handed his marching orders by Andy Madley following a foul on Matheus Nunes.
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A straight red card means that O’Nien will be banned for three matches, ruling him out of games against Brighton and Leeds United. O’Nien is one of the few Sunderland players still in and around the first-team that played in the last Wear-Tyne derby back in January 2024 - a game the Magpies won 3-0 following a Dan Ballard own goal and a brace from Alexander Isak.
On O’Nien’s red card, Le Bris said: “It's a shame to receive a red card at the end of the game but if the referee thought it was red then that's fine. When you're not at your best you have to accept this.”
Newcastle United, meanwhile, have no suspension issues to worry about next week. Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Dan Burn have all been shown three yellow cards this season.
Unlike their hosts next weekend, Newcastle do have a game to play in midweek before their trip to Wearside. However, red card suspensions do not carry over from European competitions into domestic games therefore Howe will already be able to plan with a full complement of players for next weekend’s game, those that are fit at least, which includes £55m man Yoane Wissa after he made his long-awaited debut at St James’ Park against Burnley.