Tottenham could be given huge Premier League relegation battle boost thanks to FA rules

Tottenham Hotspur will be closely monitoring results across the country when the Premier League gets back underway after the international break

Brighton could be without a key player when they face Tottenham Hotspur after the international break. Next month, Igor Tudor's side will host the Seagulls as they continue their quest for Premier League survival.

With just four points separating Leeds United in 16th from West Ham in 18th, sandwiching Nottingham Forest and the Lilywhites, there's very little margin for error in the relegation battle. Meanwhile, Brighton are a stone's throw from the European places, with just five points and three clubs separating them from Chelsea in sixth.

Although Fabian Hürzeler's side may fancy their chances, having not lost to Spurs on home turf since October 2022, they could be without Diego Gomez. The 22-year-old midfielder has established himself as an important player in the Brighton starting lineup this season, featuring in all but three games across all competitions

He has, however, been booked nine times in the process, putting himself at risk of suspension. According to The FA's disciplinary rules, players who accumulate 10 yellow cards in Premier League matches up to and including their club's 32nd fixture of the campaign will serve a two-match ban in the same competition.

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So, if Gomez is cautioned during Brighton's first game back after the international, when they face Burnley on April 11, he would miss the clash against Tottenham on April 18. The Paraguay international would also be suspended for the game against Chelsea on April 26.

Hürzeler has been delighted with the midfielder's progress on the south coast, so it'd be a huge blow if he were to miss the Tottenham clash. Earlier this month, following a home win over Forest, the Seagulls boss said: "He's a South American and South Americans are very passionate about football.

"He's passionate about improving, passionate about getting better every day, and I think we see it with his effort. He never rests, he's always there for the team, he's a hard worker and on top of that he has some really good quality.

"He has an amazing finish, he has a good understanding of the game, he attacks the box well, and he's always keen on learning. He's a really good listener, he tries to adapt to the new culture as quickly as possible, he's learning English so overall I really enjoy working with him."

Meanwhile, Tudor has described the relegation battle as the biggest rescue-job of his career. Speaking to reporters at the end of February, the interim Spurs boss said: "If I recognised the difficulties there are, probably yes [it is the biggest].

"It's an even bigger motivation that we do it. There's not too much time to think about performance or style. Every game needs to be prepared in that way: How are we going to take the points? One way or the other way.

"Unfortunately, it's for me very clear. I'm not that kind of coach who doesn't want to cure style, how we perform - but in this moment it's not possible to think about those kind of things."

Tudor later added: "The style is second because it's a question of life and death, if I can say that sportingly."