Fulham handed huge blow ahead of Man Utd clash as Premier League’s top tackler ruled out

Fulham will be without Joao Palhinha for Saturday’s trip to Manchester United after the midfielder received his tenth yellow card over the weekend.

Marco Silva’s team lost 2-1 at home to Aston Villa on Saturday, with Ollie Watkins scoring twice either side of half-time before Rodrigo Muniz equalized. The Cottagers pushed for an equaliser, and in his haste to regain possession and launch an assault, Palhinha was booked for a late and reckless lunge on John McGinn.
Palhinha will now face a two-match punishment under Premier League rules after receiving 10 yellow cards before Fulham’s 32nd game. The midfielder missed Fulham’s win over Wolves in November after receiving five yellow cards, and he will now miss Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford, becoming the first Premier League player to reach the unwelcome milestone this season.
The ban is a big blow for Fulham, who have relied largely on Palhinha’s defensive prowess as a midfield pillar. The former Bayern Munich target has 105 tackles this season, the most in the Premier League. In his absence, Silva will most likely start Harrison Reed, who has only started one Premier League games since the beginning of December and represents a substantial decline in quality.