Manchester United two games away from nightmare scenario after Bruno Fernandes red card

Lisandro Martinez is walking a disciplinary tight-rope for Manchester United after he was shown a yellow card vs Tottenham, compounding the club's triple suspension risk.

The no-nonsense Argentina defender is at risk of a one-match suspension - after accumulating three yellow cards - with the latest coming for a foul in the centre-circle on James Maddison in the second half against Tottenham. Erik ten Hag will already have to make-do without captain Bruno Fernandes after his red card in the same game.

Sunday afternoon's caution takes Martinez to within two bookings of a suspension. He will look to steer clear of a ban for accumulating five yellow cards, with the cut-off point still months away.

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Also on three yellow cards for United is youngster Kobbie Mainoo, who picked up his bookings in consecutive matches against Brighton, Liverpool and Southampton, after September's international break. United are seven games into their Premier League season.

Martinez, 26, was previously booked against rivals Liverpool and Crystal Palace. Yellow card tallies for players are wiped later in the season, but players will have to wait until the 19th game for that reprieve.

Should a player receive five yellow cards before then, they will serve a one-match ban. Martinez and Mainoo are, potentially, two games away from having to sit out a top-flight match.

That will not come as welcome news for Ten Hag, either, as he prepares for life without Fernandes over the club's next three games. The captain was sent-off in the first half against Tottenham.

If there are 10 bookings in the first 32 Premier League matches, a two-match suspension will be issued. There are also cases for extraordinary amounts of bookings in a season; 15 yellows will result in a three-match ban, while 20 cautions would land a player in hot water with the Football Association, as they may be charged with misconduct.