He will be able to play against Preston Tuesday night but then joins up with the Wales squad and will miss the games at home to Crewe next weekend, Leicester in the Carling Cup in midweek and the trip to Sheff Utd on Saturday week.
This of course brings up the club v country issue. Can City afford to lose a player of Joe's calibre for crucial games but at the same time can you stop the lad representing his country and further developing his talent.
City have other players travelling to France for the games against the French, Austria and San Marino. Darcy Blake, Gregg Coombes and Curtis McDonald are in the squad with Scott McCoubrey and Jamal Easter on standby.