Only five players bettered Matheus Cunha’s tally of 10 Premier League goals between the start of the season and the end of the year, but Wolves’ top scorer will be forced out of action for the first time in January.
The former Brazil forward has been banned because of an incident that attracted infamy after his side lost at home to Ipswich Town on December 14.
In case evidence was needed of how much he could be missed, the 25-year-old went on to score in Wolves’ 3-0 win at Leicester City and produce a goal and assist in their 2-0 home win over Manchester United in their two subsequent games.
How long will Cunha be out for? Which games will he miss and how much has he been 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
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When is Cunha’s suspension? How many games he will miss
Cunha will miss a tricky Premier League fixture for Wolves, with Nottingham Forest visiting Molineux on January 6 (8pm GMT) in the first game of 2025 for both clubs.
Wolves have risen out of the relegation zone by a point thanks to two wins and a draw since Vitor Pereira’s arrival as their manager, but Forest – who started the year in second place and on a run of five consecutive wins – could provide the Portuguese’s greatest early test.
Forest have won their last three away games, following up a 3-2 win at Manchester United with 2-0 victories at 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 could test Wolves, having only lost to high-flying Burnley and Sheffield United in their first 12 league home games and ended the year with two wins in four days at Ashton Gate against Luton Town and Portsmouth.
— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) December 31, 2024
Why is Cunha banned? Ipswich clash 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 added time.
Tempers flared at full-time after a potentially damaging blow to Wolves’ survival prospects in what proved to be former manager Gary O’Neil’s final match in charge.
In footage that drew widespread criticism, Cunha was seen appearing to elbow a member of Ipswich staff and pull their glasses from their face after the game had finished, while wideman Rayan Ait-Nouri was sent off in the tunnel.
The Football Association investigated and has fined Cunha £80,000 alongside the suspension, although he may have sat out games in the new year regardless after suffering an injury during Wolves’ final game of 2024.
Pereira withdrew Cunha at half-time in the 2-2 draw at Tottenham with a suspected hamstring issue, explaining that his number 10 had “felt something” and was “not comfortable to make a sprint”.
