Marc Guehi's much-needed break could be a blessing for Manchester City

By the time the Nottingham Forest match was done, Manchester City players must have been wiped out. The club had played nine games in 21 days, and the players looked tired. Silly mistakes were being made, and centre-back Marc Guehi was making his share.

Blues fans have gotten used to a certain level from Guehi, and that is a high one. He makes things happen positively, but when he is easily dispossessed of the ball or out of position, it's glaring. He is one of the glue players the team relies on, but when he is in poor form, he can look awful.

After the half against Forest, he had to be taken out with a hip injury. It isn't clear how severe the injury is, though it isn't expected to keep him out for weeks. He will not play during the international break for England, though, which means he should be off for two weeks before returning to play for City.

That is the hope anyway. More testing will be needed on Guehi's hip, of course, but maybe a little rest is all he needs. That is hopefully what the entire club needs.

After a blistering start to the Premier League season, winning their first seven matches, Man City has lost its last three. The first top-tier club to do that since Sheffield Wednesday during the 1904/05 season. We all remember that season, right? It was the one where the Wednesday finished in the middle of the pack with 33 points. City could be looking at the same fate or worse.

A lot depends on what happens with any sanctions from City being found guilty of breaking financial fair play rules (a verdict that Manchester City is appealing). If an immediate reduction in points is part of the punishment, City could be relegated. That is a subject for a different day, however.

For our concerns here and Marc Guehi's immediate future, the hope is that he gets the rest he needs, and his not playing for England in UEFA Nations League play against Croatia and Spain is a blessing in disguise for City.

Now he can focus on regaining his elite form, though he isn't the only Man City player struggling. Erling Haaland even did against Forest, though the plan to get him more touches seems to be lacking.

Whether manager Enzo Maresca can figure out and then correct all of his club's issues is unknown. What seems clear is that when City returns to play on November 21 against Fulham, Marc Guehi will not be as tired. Let's just hope he is healthy enough to play.