Lua Lua faces ban!

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Lua Lua in Ban Threat from the Chron by Alan Oliver New signing Lua Lua is just one booking away from a suspension NEWCASTLE United kept Lomana Lua Lua out of last night's Reserve game with Leeds United - because he's on the brink of a suspension.

For United's new #2.25 million signing arrived at St James's Park with four bookings from games played for Colchester this season.

And one more caution will bring an automatic one-match ban for the 19-year-old striker.

That's why Bobby Robson had to abandon his original plan to give Lua Lua 90 minutes last night.

A yellow card at Kingston Park for the youngster would have meant he'd be banned for United's next game - the derby clash at Middlesbrough on Monday, October 16.

The threat of a suspension before the Zaire-born player has even made his full debut for United is particularly bad news with Carl Cort out injured and Robson planning to use Daniel Cordone and Lua Lua alongside Alan Shearer.

Until Cort returns at least, one will be on at the start with the other coming off the bench as was the case at Maine Road on Saturday.

Robson told me after Saturday's 1-0 victory over Manchester City that he planned to give Lua Lua a work-out last night.

However, the United boss said today: "The reason why we did not play Lua Lua last night was because he has four yellow cards and the referee was being assessed and we did not want to take a chance.

"For if Lua Lua had been booked last night it would have meant him missing the game at Middlesbrough and that's something we cannot afford at the moment.

"So what we will have to do is to work him hard in training in the next fortnight."

As it happens, referee Barry Sigmuta booked five players last night, vindicating United's decision not to risk Lua Lua.

Ironically, Lua Lua's four yellow cards are as many as the rest of the United players have picked up in their eight Premiership games to date.

And with just four yellow cards and Warren Barton's red against Derby County, United sit proudly at the top of the PlayFair League at the moment.

Anyone know why he's been booked so often?

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Answers

I imagine he's taken a few kicks for taking the piss out of many defenders in the lower leagues and sought retribution against those kicking lumps out of him.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

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