Daniel Farke quipped he might have to play his kitman for the upcoming Premier League test at Arsenal, after Saturday’s FA Cup defeat against Manchester United brought fresh injury worries and a suspension for Timm Klose.

The Pink Un: Todd Cantwell scored but was forced off through injury in Norwich City's FA Cup defeat to Manchester United Picture: Joe Giddens/NMC Pool/PA Wire.Todd Cantwell scored but was forced off through injury in Norwich City's FA Cup defeat to Manchester United Picture: Joe Giddens/NMC Pool/PA Wire. (Image: PA Wire)

Farke faces an anxious wait to see who is available for the trip to Emirates after goalscorer Todd Cantwell and Lukas Rupp had to be sustituted.

Both will continue to be assessed by City’s medical staff over the coming days, after key roles in a battling United display.

Alex Tettey finished the cup tie at centre back, with Grant Hanley and Christoph Zimmermann already ruled out for the season through injury.

“Even if I have to play with Teemu Pukki at centre back and our kit man at right back, we will try to grind out a result there,” said the City boss. “We wanted to go all in. It was never going to be easy to go through this period and avoid injuries with so many games and no real pre-season.

We have to be so careful now with the workload in training. I am not willing to look too far ahead at this stage.

“We were highly motivated in both competitions. But the positive is we played the team of the moment. A club unbeaten in 13 or 14 games and even with a side who had all their top players available we were able to keep them quiet.

“We have upcoming fixtures against some top class sides but we showed we can compete.

“We felt it was not a deserved outcome. To get injuries and a red card feels really unfair. Not to have the fans at our back was also strange. We play for the supporters.”

Farke is convinced City have found their stride after a sluggish start to the resumption to the Premier League season.

“I feel for a second game in a row we looked defensively solid against an excellent side. That is good for the confidence,” he said. “Important too also to score. The dry spell is over now and we had other chances as well. So for the mood a big boost.

“We have to recover and it will be difficult under these circumstances if we have injuries. We will rotate again a bit and if we show the same commitment and discipline we have a chance (at Arsenal).”