Chelsea will have to contend without manager Mauricio Pochettino when they return to Premier League action against Newcastle today.

The Argentine will be missing from the touchline at St James’ Park as the Blues look to build on the momentum they generated in their two league games before the international break, with assistant coach Jesus Perez set to deputise in Pochettino’s absence.

The thrilling 4-4 draw with Manchester City, which came just six days after the chaotic 4-1 triumph over Tottenham, has seemingly ignited Chelsea’s season after an underwhelming start to Pochettino’s tenure in the Stamford Bridge hot seat.

So, with Pochettino set for a watching brief in the North East this afternoon, let’s take a look at why he won’t be in charge of the Blues for the clash with Eddie Howe’s men.

Pochettino will not be on the touchline today having picked up three yellow cards since the start of the Premier League season.

Under rules recently introduced by the FA, managers are given a one-game ban if they are given three yellow cards before the turn of the New Year.

Pochettino collected his third yellow card of the campaign against Manchester City after storming the pitch at full-time to confront referee Anthony Taylor, incensed with his decision to blow the whistle when Raheem Sterling was launching a Chelsea attack in the dying embers of the game.

Pochettino, who also forgot to shake hands with Pep Guardiola, later apologised for his actions and insisted he held no grudges with his opposite number.

The Chelsea boss said as cited by Sports Central: ‘I need to apologise to Anthony [Taylor] and the officials because in this moment I feel Raheem [Sterling] can go through and in this moment I say “What the…?” ‘I deserve to be booked, I apologise but this type of behaviour is no good. I want to apologise to him also [Guardiola], I was focused on the action.’

The indiscretion against the reigning champions followed the bookings he picked up against Brighton and Burnley earlier in the season.

Pochettino has also joked that it is one rule for him, and one rule for his players, when it comes to punishment for receiving bans.

Nicolas Jackson was ordered to complete extra laps of their Cobham training ground earlier this year when he picked up his own ban for collecting five yellow cards in his first six games of the campaign.

Pochettino, however, has decided that he should face financial retribution, as opposed to physical.

Pochettino equipped as cited by Sports Central: ‘He [Jackson] needed to run! And for me? I am going to pay for a dinner. ‘I am going to pay for a dinner because I get suspended now. Because I cannot run… I would prefer to pay! ‘I am taking the players and staff out for a barbecue. It will be a lot!’

Pochettino isn’t the only manager to be absent from the sidelines this weekend, with Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag missing his side’s clash with Everton at Goodison for the same reason on Sunday.