Chris Coleman had wanted to use the 19 year old sparingly when he signed him in the summer but this has not been the case and apart from injury and suspension, the highly popular Ice Man has become a main stay of the team.
"I have to relax and get my engine started again when I come back for the Cup," said Gunnarsson to the Sunday Mercury.
"I don't think all the bookings are justified but I am the type of player who never gives up and if I see a player go past and no-one can catch him, then I have to take him down. A few of the cards are deserved but not all of them but I am suspended for two games and that's how it is.
"I play for Iceland on February 11 in a friendly against Liechtenstein and will come back here on the Thursday and travel with Coventry to Sunderland or Blackburn, whoever wins their replay and I will be fit for that.
"I won't play the whole game for my country because it is just a friendly and the manager will understand that, and he likes to use a lot of players anyway.
"I need a break and will maybe have a few days in the sun, maybe Tenerife, because I am out for two weeks and I need to get my energy back.
''I have played more games this season so far than the whole season last year and it is quite hard for a 19-year-old.
"People talk about older players getting tired, but young players without experience don't always know how to relax outside of football.
''I am tired - tired in my head as well, but I will be fit for the Cup game. I am looking forward to playing against another Premier League team because we did well against Newcastle United in the Carling Cup earlier in the season even though we lost, so we will work hard and try to beat whoever we get in the next round.
"It is going to be a good game for me to show what I can do, although I don't know if I will be playing yet because if the boys do well while I am out, I might not get back in the team.
''If they win two games in a row then there is no automatic place for me. I have to work hard for my place back and I want the team to do well while I am away, because I am in this for the team, not for me.''