Defender Adam Drury is likely to miss several weeks of City’s Championship campaign.

The 32-year-old left-back was ruled out of last night’s home match against Crystal Palace with the calf injury he suffered at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

And after a 2-1 defeat – the Canaries’ third on home soil in six league games this season – manager Paul Lambert admitted there was no chance of a quick return to action for Drury at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday.

“I think it will be a few weeks,” said Lambert, who gave Steven Smith his fourth outing for the club in Drury’s place.

There was a further change in the back four with Jens Berthel Askou replacing Elliott Ward, who was serving a one-match ban, but Lambert refused to blame defensive disruption for City’s defeat, though both goals were conceded from corners.

He said: “The two lads that were out of the team have been colossal for us but that doesn’t really wash with me – it’s a squad and we need everybody to do the same things.

“I’m just disappointed we lost the game, especially from two set pieces, which is not like us, to be honest.

“In the first half we were playing well and we got a good goal, but set-pieces are a big part of football and if you can’t defend set-pieces then that’s what will happen, and the two goals were disappointing. The lads know my feelings.

“But we are still sitting in the play-off positions so we have a chance to turn things round on Saturday.”

Boro’ are likely to arrive at Carrow Road without a manager after Gordon Strachan’s resignation on Monday, but Lambert does not place great significance on that.

He said: “It’s hard to say how they will respond. I am not part of their dressing room or their club so I don’t know the feelings of it.”