The English Football Association has revealed that Ghana's Sulley Muntari will not miss Portmouth's trip toAston Villa on Saturday through suspension, despite collecting six yellow cards this season.

The midfielder was expected to miss the crucial tie after receiving a yellow card in the club's previous match.

Muntari was cautioned - for taking a free-kick too early - by referee Peter Walton in Saturday's goalless draw with Everton .

But two of his previous bookings this term were against Manchester United in the second game of the campaign and are wiped out, under FA rules, by the red card which automatically followed.

He has already served a one-match ban for that but it means the two yellows are removed from the totting-up procedure.

An FA spokesman said: "A further ban now would be punishing the player twice. The red card expunged the two bookings in the same match and so he is currently on four cautions."