Oxford United’s Dave Kitson is available to play at York City this Saturday, much to the surprise of United fans, after the Football Association confirmed the striker is only on nine yellow cards for the season.

The Us feared the former Reading and Stoke City frontman had picked up his tenth yellow card of the season during United’s last-gasp 2-1 home win over Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday, implementing an automatic two-game suspension.

However the FA have explained that Kitson’s sending off against Exeter City back in late October means the forward has already served his punishment for those two yellow card offences, therefore meaning the 33 year-old is in fact one more caution away from a two-match ban.

Put as simply as possible, Kitson has been given 11 individual yellow cards so far this season in league and cup matches. Two of the yellows made a red against Exeter. For this, he has already served a one-match man. Although many believed only the latter card would be taken from his season total as a result of the ban being served, leaving him on 10 and now a two-game ban, the FA have confirmed that both yellow cards have contributed to Kitson already serving a ban. 11-2=9 and another chance for the former Portsmouth striker.

On the other hand, for Kitson to avoid the sanction at all costs, the towering striker would have to avoid being noted into the referee’s book until mid-April, something which is extremely unlikely after picking up nine yellow cards (plus the two that made the red)  in just 17 league appearances so far this campaign.