Fulham’s midfield powerhouse looking a formality to serve a two-game suspension

Fulham look set to be without the midfield bite of Joao Palhinha again with the Portuguese midfield general just one booking away from a two-match ban.

Palhinha received his ninth caution of the campaign in last weekend’s 1-0 win at Brighton. But replays showed that the summer signing clearly won the ball as he slid in to tackle Tariq Lamptey.

Palhinha would need to keep out of disciplinary trouble again until after the 32nd Premier League game, which seems highly unlikely.

He was cautioned in five of his first seven top-flight fixtures, ensuring he was suspended for the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle at Craven Cottage.

Palhinha has made the most tackles in the Premier League (98), which is 17 ahead of Leeds’ Tyler Adams.

He went nine matches after his ban without collecting a yellow card. But Saturday’s caution in the first minute of stoppage time in Sussex meant he had been booked in four of his last seven games.

Fulham are sixth in the standings and host Wolves tomorrow night.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is set to once again be unavailable due to a hamstring injury.

Manor Solomon’s superb strike earned the Whites a smash-and-grab three points on the South Coast. The Israeli is bidding to net in three successive matches after scoring Fulham’s second in the 2-0 victory over Forest on February 11.

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD