Charlie Austin banned for three games after being charged with violent misconduct by FA for kicking Jonas Lossl in the face

CHARLIE AUSTIN has been banned for three games by the FA for kicking Huddersfield keeper Jonas Lossl in the face.

The Southampton striker was charged with violent misconduct after appearing to deliberately catch the Huddersfield goalkeeper on the nose.

Danish stopper Lossl was left bloodied and needed over four minutes of medical attention after the incident.

Austin was not carded by the referee but has received the suspension retrospectively.

And Saints' leading scorer this season will now miss games against Tottenham, Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

Austin, 28, who was later taken off with a hamstring injury, with boss Mauricio Pellegrino admitted it could keep the six-goal star out for "a couple of weeks minimum."

But the former QPR frontman's ban now means he will certainly not return before the FA Cup tie at Fulham on January 6.

Austin - who scored the opening goal against Huddersfield - accepted the charge but argued the suspension was excessive.

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That claim was rejected by an independent panel.

Blood poured from Lossl's nose as medics rushed to his aide, with Terriers boss David Wagner blasting the challenge after the game.

The German, 46, said: “It was a very ugly, nasty challenge, this should never happen.

“There was so much distance from the goalkeeper and the ball, Jonas was so early on the ball.

“This should never happen. Unfortunately Charlie Austin made the wrong decision at the moment, and this happened.

“I have seen the video footage.

"The opponent hurts an opponent on purpose, even if I don’t like to say that, but it looks like it.”