Mirko Topić is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign after picking up an ACL injury against Oxford United, as confirmed by head coach Philippe Clement.
The Serbian international sustained the injury right on the stroke of half-time during Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Carrow Road.
It's another blow for Clement who already has 10 of his first-team squad out through injury.
"Really bad news, it's an ACL. He's out for the rest of the season, we'll get him surgery as fast as possible. Bad news for him, the team, the club, everybody," Clement explained.
"I spoke to the players this morning. Mirko is someone who is only here a few months, away from family, in a new team, a new dressing room, and that falls away now for him. It'll be rehab almost alone or with Ante (Crnac) but it's important the whole team stays connected with them.
"I want them involved with the team, I want the other guys to do things with them outside of football - the right things, not going to pubs or something.
"If you start thinking about (the injuries), we'll start thinking about all the problems. I want to find solutions, this is something we can't control. We want to put the focus into the guys who are fit while helping the ones who are injured. There are a few coming closer towards training but not to be in the squad."
City picked up their first Carrow Road point of the season during the week.
Clement insists that the added confidence being instilled in the squad was behind the performance that arguably deserved three points.
"They wouldn't have been able to do that without confidence being in them. That was built on the training pitch before the game. I believe there is much more potential in this group than they have shown until now. We'll continue to make the structure better and better, the patterns on the ball will improve," he said.
"It has something to do with luck in some moments. The good chance Emiliano (Marcondes) has, it's blocked, on another day that goes into the corner and you have a great attack and a great finish."
On the night, Jovon Makama netted the Norwich goal, firing into the top corner from 12 yards out after Ruairi McConville took a ball down on his chest in the penalty area.
It's the fourth of the season for the summer signing from Lincoln City.
"He has a certain profile but I think he's at 30 per cent of his potential. He's one I'll need to be tough with to get him to 100 per cent. I'm happy with what he's showing but we've spoken about where he needs to improve. Every thing we have talked about, he's put effort into. I'm excited to work with him for the next months and years," Clement said of the young striker.
"We won't confuse people too much with other positions. We are focused on what we want to do right now and then we'll look at how we can create a more hybrid system. Right now, we're looking for foundations to build the house on."
A talking point from Tuesday was the substitution of Matěj Jurásek who was replaced in injury time having come on late in the second half.
Clement outlined the conversations he has had with the young Czech since Tuesday as well as the positive reaction he has seen.
"He had a really mature reaction. Our performance staff said they had to do runs after the game, the guys who play less than one half. He asked at the end to do more, that's the reaction I want.
"We spoke the day after about why I made the decision, with videos to show what I need. He can kick on now but we need to get him to a much better physical level. He has been sick, he hasn't played much. The players who didn't play much also didn't train much between the games.
"I'm vey positive about the mindset he has shown. I would have understood if he was down or upset, but he realised he needed more. It was on me, it was too fast to bring him in after two trainings where he had to give a lot."