Garry Monk has told some of his Leeds United stars to avoid picking up stupid bookings, and risk suspension, as the race for promotion gathers pace in the Sky Bet Championship, reports the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Two of Leeds United’s first-choice defenders, Luke Ayling and Kyle Bartley, are just one caution away from receiving a two-match ban, while Pontus Jansson is three yellow cards away, from a three game suspension.

With Monk facing a spell without some of his key players, he was asked if he had spoken to the defenders, he told the YEP: “It’s not a situation you want but I don’t speak to the players particularly about it.

“A player’s there to deliver his best performance, whatever he needs to do. I never mention about not taking a yellow card because they’re only one away (from a ban) or anything like that. You perform how you need to perform and we deal with everything afterwards.”

Jansson has picked up cheap yellow cards this season, for dissent and over celebrating, something his manager mentioned: “The problem I have are when they’re silly yellow cards or needless yellow cards – when it’s dissent, kicking the ball away or something stupid.”

Ayling and Bartley need to make it to the second weekend of March, when the danger of their two-match ban will be lifted. Jansson will be walking a tightrope between now and the end of the season, knowing three more cautions will see him serve a ban.

The three have been a key part of Leeds’ success this season, forming a solid unit across Monk’s back-four along with Charlie Taylor or Gaetano Berardi at left-back.

Leeds are sat fifth in the Championship table, eight-points behind the automatic promotion places, with just 14 games left of the season.

Monk’s side will be looking to close that gap this weekend, where they travel to Ipswich Town to face Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town.

Leeds fans… Are you worried about the looming suspensions some of your key players are facing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!