Manchester United are facing a suspension in their FA Cup match against Reading.

On Saturday night, Manchester United will face Championship side Reading in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford.

When Manchester United face Reading in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes will be walking a disciplinary tightrope.

The Portuguese international is one booking away from serving a one-match suspension in the FA Cup after scoring his third goal in four games against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening. Fernandes was booked earlier this month in the third-round win over Everton, and a second booking will result in a ban.

The stand-in captain, who joined the Reds from Sporting Lisbon in the FA Cup three years ago, was booked less than half an hour into the Reds’ 3-1 win over the Toffees at Old Trafford. According to FA rules, if a player’s club enters the competition in the third round, any player who receives two yellow cards will be suspended for one match.

Premier League

The deadline for avoiding a ban after receiving two yellow cards in the FA Cup does not come until the quarter-finals (sixth round). United is still two wins away from qualifying for the knockout round.

Though Fernandes faces a ban, he may be left out of Erik ten Hag’s plans for the Championship Royals’ visit, even though he has been a nearly constant figure this season. United are strong favorites to defeat Paul Ince’s side and advance to the next round of the competition, which means Ten Hag could make some changes, though he has approached every cup fixture with the utmost respect this season.

The Reds’ 3-0 win over Forest in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, on the other hand, could indicate that the Dutchman is willing to go with a stronger team than he had planned, given the Reds’ strong chances of reaching the Carabao Cup final. If the scoreline against Forest had not been favourable to United, Ten Hag would have been more likely to make changes against Reading, saving his key personnel for the rematch with Forest next Wednesday night.

Ten Hag fielded a strong line-up against Championship opposition in Burnley earlier this season in the Carabao Cup, and he could do so again on Saturday. Fernandes has already served suspensions in both the Premier League and the Carabao Cup this season after accruing enough yellow cards to earn a one-match suspension in each of those competitions.

No other United player was booked during the win over Everton earlier this month, so no one else is in danger of receiving an FA Cup ban if the Reds win and advance to the fifth round.