Only five players have surpassed Matheus Cunha's tally of 10 Premier League goals between the start of the season and the end of the year, but the Wolves top scorer will have to stop playing for the first time in January.
The former Brazil striker was suspended for an incident that sparked disgrace following his side's home loss to Ipswich Town on 14 December.
In case you needed proof of how much he can be missed, the 25-year-old went on to score in Wolves' 3-0 win over Leicester City, and also registered a goal and an assist in a 2-0 home win over Manchester United in the subsequent two matches.
How long will Cunha be out of action? What matches will he miss and how much was he fined? 101GreatGoals.com has the details.
BREAKING: Matheus Cunha has been charged with misconduct following the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town 🚨 pic.twitter.com/k56pO3ZQId
– Sky Sports News (SkySportsNews) December 17, 2024
When does it stop being? How many games will he miss?
Cunha will miss a tough Premier League clash with Wolves, as Nottingham Forest visit Molineux on January 6 (8pm GMT) in the first match of 2025 for both clubs.
Wolves have moved out of the relegation zone by one point thanks to two wins and a draw since the arrival of Vitor Pereira as their coach, but Forest – who started the year in second place and achieved five successive wins – could provide the Portuguese's greatest achievement. Early testing.
Forest have won their last three away matches, after beating Manchester United 3-2, then 2-0 wins over Brentford and Everton.
Pereira will also be without Cunha for the trip to Championship club Bristol City in the FA Cup third round on January 11 (12pm).
The Robins can test Wolves, having only lost to in-form Burnley and Sheffield United in their opening 12 home league games and ending the year with two wins in four days at Ashton Gate against Luton Town and Portsmouth.
– Official spokesperson for the FA (@FAspokesperson) December 31, 2024
Why was it banned? Ipswich struggle explained
Cunha's 72nd minute goal looked to have given Wolves a 1–1 draw against Ipswich until Jack Taylor scored the winner four minutes into stoppage time.
Tensions flared throughout after a potentially devastating blow to Wolves' survival prospects in what proved to be former manager Gary O'Neill's final game.
In footage that sparked widespread criticism, Cunha was seen elbowing an Ipswich team member and pulling his glasses off his face after the match, while player Rayan Ait Nouri was sent off in the tunnel.
The Football Association investigated and fined Cunha £80,000 along with a ban, although he may have missed matches in the new year regardless of having picked up an injury during Wolves' final match of 2024.
Pereira was withdrawn from Cunha at half-time in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham due to a hamstring problem, explaining that the No.10 “felt something” and was not “comfortable making fast runs”.
