Moises Caicedo can't stay out of the referee's book. And it's becoming a real problem for Chelsea.

For the third straight season, Caicedo is fighting to avoid a two-game suspension for accumulating 10 yellow cards before his team's 32nd Premier League match, The Athletic reports. The Ecuadorian midfielder has picked up a remarkable 30 yellow cards in just 95 league appearances since joining Chelsea - that's a booking every three games.

Let me put that in perspective: Caicedo gets shown yellow more often than some teams get corners.

The 24-year-old is one of the most talented defensive midfielders in the Premier League. His ability to break up play, win tackles, and shield the back four is a huge reason Chelsea paid Brighton a British record fee for a midfielder. But his aggressive style comes with a price - and that price is measured in yellow cards.

Here's the thing: Caicedo plays on the edge. That's what makes him effective. He's not out there to make friends or avoid contact. He's there to win the ball back and start attacks. That kind of intensity is exactly what Chelsea needs in the middle of the park.

But three years in a row of flirting with suspension? That's a pattern. And patterns become problems when they cost your team points.

Imagine you're Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. You've got a crucial stretch of games coming up - maybe a Champions League knockout tie, maybe a top-four battle - and you're sweating whether your best defensive midfielder is going to pick up one more soft yellow and miss two matches.

That's not a position any manager wants to be in.

The question is whether Caicedo can adjust his game without losing what makes him special. Can he be smart about when to make tactical fouls? Can he avoid the silly bookings - the dissent, the late challenges after the whistle, the frustration yellows that don't help anyone?

Because make no mistake: Chelsea needs him on the field. They paid £115 million for a reason. But they need him available for the games that matter most.

The Premier League's yellow card accumulation system resets after 32 games, so Caicedo is in the danger zone right now. One more booking before then, and he's sitting for two matches. After that, he gets a clean slate.

It's a tightrope walk for one of the league's most combative midfielders. And we're about to find out if he can make it to the other side without falling off.

That's what sports is all about, folks - playing with fire without getting burned.