The absence of Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne from the English Premier League (EPL) has raised questions about the foreign player status of Brazilian international Douglas Costa.
Costa, who joined City from Bayern Munich last summer for a reported fee of £45 million ($62.8 million), is currently out with a hamstring injury that could keep him sidelined for up to four weeks.
City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed on Wednesday that Costa will be out of action until at least January, and the club has been forced to rely on other players in his position.
Costa's absence has led to concerns over the club's ability to compete in the Champions League this season, as he was one of their key midfielders and a major contributor to their success in recent seasons.
However, Costa's situation is not unique to City. The EFL Championship, which is the second tier of English football, has seen a number of foreign players struggle to adapt to the league due to the physicality of the game.
In fact, Costa's absence may have even made things worse for some foreign players in the league, as they may feel more pressure to perform well without their main attacking options.
Despite these challenges, Costa has shown himself to be a valuable asset to City, scoring six goals and providing seven assists in just 19 appearances so far this season.
But with Costa potentially out for an extended period, it remains to be seen how City will cope without him, and whether or not they can still compete at the highest level.
Overall, Costa's absence highlights the importance of having a strong squad in the EPL, and raises questions about the foreign player status of certain players who may be struggling to adjust to the league.