Manchester City ace Phil Foden made headlines for all the wrong reasons last weekend. He got himself sent off for a ruckus challenge on Bruno Fernandes during their Premier League derby with Manchester United.
Going down initially following a contact with the Portuguese playmaker, Foden appeared to kick him back in a cynical response to that, prompting referee Michael Oliver to brandish a straight red - the first of Foden's career.
Just 23 minutes into the clash, and City were already reduced to 10-men although a strike from Erling Haaland at the hour mark proved enough to seal all three points at Old Trafford, their first win at the ground in nearly three years.
As for Foden, a straight red card means he will now have to serve a three-game suspension, as opposed to one-match ban that the forward would have had to see in case of two yellow cards. And for the record, a direct sending off also means suspension will apply to domestic cup games too.
Here are the three fixtures he will have to miss for Manchester City:
1) Norwich City, 17 September (EFL Cup)
Foden's suspension comes into effect tonight as he's set to miss Manchester City's Carabao Cup game of the season against Championship side Norwich City. Head coach Enzo Maresca has already hinted at changes to his lineup, so even if the forward was available, it's unliky that we would have seen him start (or even play at all). City boast a formidable squad depth (and talent) to see off the Norfolk minnows without hassle.
2) Sunderland, 20 September (Premier Legue)
At the weekend, City are at home once again as Sunderland come to town for a crunch Premier League fixture. But, the Sky Blues will have their task cutout without Foden. Although the Black Cats are languishing in the bottom half of the league rankings, they beat Dutch giants AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in a statement Europa League victory on Wednesday.
3) Liverpool, 11 October (Premier League)
This is a crucial one, but Foden wouldn't be available for this clash either. City are away to Anfield in their first league match of the season post the international break in what seems like a potential banana skin. Maresca would want to have his entire squad fit and firing for the Liverpool game but won't be able to call upon one of his key forwards. Foden, however, will return for the Champions League visit of PSG a few days later, followed by his Premier League return later that weekend against Ipswich Town.
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