Cucurella OUT of Chelsea's clash with Brighton after receiving fifth booking

Marc Cucurella will miss Chelsea's clash with Brighton next week, after receiving a booking for dissent in the Blues' defeat to Newcastle.

The yellow card was the Spanish defender's fifth booking of the season and means he won't be available for the visit of the Seagulls next weekend.

It also means Mauricio Pochettino will be without a full-back on either flank as the game also saw Reece James receive two yellow cards before being sent off by referee Simon Hooper.

It was Chelsea's fifth booking for dissent this season, and is further evidence to support Mail Sport's campaign to stop the abuse referees receive from players and managers at all levels of the game.

Before this weekend's fixtures almost 100 yellow cards had been dished out for dissent so far this season, with Fulham the worse offenders with 11 bookings shown for the offence.

Cucurella has played in the last seven league games for Pochettino's side, filling in at right-back during James' injury absence before switching to his preferred left-back birth for the last three outings.

His absence could prevent another selection headache for the Argentine boss, with first-choice left-back Ben Chilwell also still missing with injury.

Cucurella's petulant booking only added to a disappointing evening for Chelsea as the were comprehensively beaten by Newcastle at St James' Park.

Alexander Isak's 13th minute strike was cancelled out by Raheem Sterling, before the Magpies took control in the second half.

Jamaal Lascelles header on the hour mark was quickly followed up a minute later by a goal from Joelinton and Eddie Howe's team rounded things off with an Anthony Gordon goal after Chelsea had been reduced to ten men.

The 4-1 defeat sees the Blues remain in the bottom half of the Premier League in 11th place, with Newcastle back in the top six after their resounding victory.