Newcastle United's captain, Bruno Guimaraes, might face a Premier League ban after a recent game against Sunderland.

Guimaraes joined other Tyne-Wear derby captains who've tasted defeat when his team lost at the Stadium of Light on Sunday. He told reporters he was embarrassed by the loss. He said everyone knew what the game meant to the fans, and they failed to win it for them.

Guimaraes expressed how frustrating that was, because they have a better team, but they didn't play like it, and he is very angry with the performance. He admits that the team lacks consistency and a strong mentality. Now, they need to focus on the Wednesday semi-final, put the club into the semi-final, and he has to be careful with what he says.

He's clear to play in that semi-final, but he needs to be careful on Saturday when Chelsea visits.

Guimaraes is at risk of a Premier League ban.

During the Sunderland defeat, Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Malick Thiaw, and Joe Willock all received yellow cards. But for Guimaraes, it was his fourth of the season, putting him closer to a suspension.

The Premier League rules state that if a player gets five yellow cards in the first 19 Premier League games, they get a one-match ban. These yellow cards don't count in the EFL Cup or FA Cup.

Also, if a player gets 10 yellow cards in Premier League matches up to and including their team's 32nd game, they'll be suspended for two matches.

This means Guimaraes needs to avoid a booking against Chelsea, Manchester United, or Burnley to avoid a one-match ban. Another yellow card this weekend, and he'll miss the game against Manchester United, which would hurt Newcastle's chances of winning away against them again.

Only a red card against Fulham on Wednesday would stop Guimaraes from playing against Chelsea on Saturday, since yellow card suspensions don't carry over from the league to cup games.

Dan Burn and Joelinton are also close to a possible Premier League ban, but they'd need two more bookings in the next three games. Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey would need yellow cards in all of Newcastle's next three Premier League matches to get a one-match ban.

Here’s what Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe had to say before his team heads to Sunderland this Sunday:

Howe knows this weekend's Wear-Tyne Derby against Sunderland is a big deal, saying his players need to find the right mindset for the game.

The Magpies are heading to the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon for the first Premier League match between these two Northeast teams since 2016. Howe knows the game will be intense, but he wants his team to focus on playing well, not just getting caught up in the hype.

After their 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen, Howe mentioned that getting too worked up can backfire, leading to overthinking and poor performance. He stressed the need for a cool head and passion, saying that lacking fire would also lead to a poor performance.

What else did Eddie Howe say about the Sunderland game?

Someone asked Howe if Newcastle would aim for a draw, considering Sunderland's good home record. He shut that down, saying they prepared to win every game. He noted the short time to get ready, but believes they're managing OK and will be ready.

About Sunderland's strength and toughness, Howe said they're key in the game. He pointed out Sunderland's physical play and threat from set plays, saying Newcastle needs to match that while sticking to their own game plan. He said they try to play their way no matter where they are, whether it’s a Champions League game or at home, tweaking things as needed after assessing the game.

Looking back at Newcastle’s last visit to the Stadium of Light, where they won 3-0 in the FA Cup last January, Howe said they enjoyed the win because they played well. Now, they have to recover from their trip [from Germany] so they can perform their best.

Howe admitted he knew about the Wear-Tyne Derby's intensity before, but experiencing it is different. He's seen derbies on TV and felt the rivalry, but being there makes you realise it's more than you thought. He’s looking forward to experiencing it again.

When asked if their Champions League game would hurt their chances on Sunday, Howe said he would always prefer a week to prepare for a game to train and focus. Since that's not an option, they're used to preparing quickly and hope they're getting better at it. This game will be a good test.

Talking about Newcastle’s late goals conceded and Sunderland’s late wins, Howe said people might be reading too much into it. He admitted they know what they need to fix.

Howe doesn't think they can change who they are. He thinks they’re exciting to watch and play a style that people enjoy. He knows this sometimes leads to defensive issues, which they're trying to fix.

About the game's importance and playing Sunderland in the league after last year’s cup game, Howe sees it as a good thing. He wants to be part of big games and take on tough challenges. He hopes this game will be memorable for the right reasons, with someone creating a special moment for the fans and making them proud.