David Wagner confirmed that club captain Grant Hanley will play his first minutes with the Under-21s on Monday as he looks to wrap-up his rehabilitation.
Ahead of Saturday's trip to Sunderland, the head coach also spoke of goalkeeping options in the upcoming fixtures.
"Vicente Reyes will be back next week and this weekend we will be covered by Caleb Ansen again.
"I can't see that Angus Gunn will be ready for the first day of international break. He will not make Cardiff, so we will see how everything progresses in the next 10 days, two weeks.
"George \[Long\] trained very well in the previous international break and after that; he really made big steps. He is desperate for a clean sheet, like the rest of us.
On Grant Hanley, Wagner said: "He will be in good shape for after this international break."
With one win and one draw in the last five fixtures, the head coach was asked about staying positive after the recent results.
"This is not the nicest period and we would like to change this.
"I have to take the criticism and I have no problem with this. We are very self-critical and we speak to each other very honestly.
"Do I doubt my players? No, no chance. It is totally okay to receive criticism and we don't run away from that.
"In every game we have a chance and as much as the supporters want to change it for us, we are the only ones who can. We have to address what we have to change and be brave and go for it.
"This period happens to every team in the Championship at some point; it happened when I was at Huddersfield.
"As the manager, I will show the direction and show solutions; my backroom staff, the players and I are working on this."
On the topic of Ben Knapper, who will officially begin work at Norwich City on November 27 as the new sporting director, Wagner gave big credit to the board and owners for how they have been dealing with the changes.
"It's all very professional and proper; everyone is on the same page."
Reflecting on the midweek defeat to Middlesbrough at Carrow Road, Wagner discussed his choice in second-half substitutions.
"Adam \[Idah\] was not as energetic in the game and the idea was that we needed new energy.
"I thought the subs were energetic; Borja (Sainz), (Przemysław) Płacheta and Ui-Jo (Hwang); which was something that had a positive impact in the last game."
City travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland in Saturday's Championship fixture.
"They are in a similar situation of results, but doesn't change the fact that this is a top side with very good individuals.
"They are not the tallest, so defending set-pieces for them is not a strong point of theirs. We'd like to challenge them for the play-offs."