Manchester City midfielder Sun Jihai has been banned for four games after he was sent off in the FA Cup quarterfinals against West Ham on Monday.

The ban of the Chinese utility man added to Stuart Pearce's woes following the cup defeat and a host of injury problems.

Sun has had a sending-off in a pre-season friendly at Stoke last summer brought into consideration along with the straight redfor the incident on Monday night involving Matthew Etherington.

Already without key players due to a growing injury list, Pearce will be without the services of Sun beginning with this Saturday's Premiership clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile Pearce is waiting on the results of ankle scans on Samaras and Jordan, who could both miss the remainder of the campaign if fears over the extent of their respective injuries is confirmed.

And with Joey Barton struggling, Darius Vassell battling on despite a hernia and Andy Cole still recovering from a knee injury,Bradley Wright-Phillips may have to continue up front despite being less than impressive in the last two games.

Editor: Donald