Tottenham's Eric Dier faces disciplinary tightrope to avoid two-game suspension

Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier will have to walk a disciplinary tightrope if he is to avoid a two-game Premier League suspension in the coming weeks.

The 22-year-old picked up his ninth caution of the season during Saturday's north London derby and is now one yellow card away from an automatic ban.

The Premier League's cut off date for accumulated bookings is on April 10 but Mauricio Pochettino's side have four top-flight fixtures before then, starting with Sunday's trip to Aston Villa.

Spurs will then face Bournemouth, Liverpool and Manchester United, with the clash against Louis van Gaal's side set to take place on the same day as the suspension cut off date.

If Dier is booked after the cut off date he will serve a one-game suspension rather than two.

Dier, who served a one-game ban in October after accumulating five bookings in his first eight appearances this term, has excelled in a central midfield role throughout the current campaign but his positional switch has coincided with a poor disciplinary record.

The England international has featured in 28 Premier League games this season - more than any other midfielder in Pochettino's squad - and his absence at a critical stage of the season could prove to be a blow for the north Londoners, who trail leaders Leicester by five points.

Erik Lamela is Tottenham's joint-second most booked player behind Dier with a tally of seven, all of which have been received in the Premier League.

But the Argentine and Dele Alli, who also has a total of seven bookings - including one in the Capital One cup, should both be safe from the immediate threat of suspension.