Injured Norwich City duo Alex Pritchard and Timm Klose have been ruled out for the start of the Championship season.

Head coach Daniel Farke confirmed the body blow on Tuesday morning, speaking at the Canaries’ German training camp.

Both Pritchard (ankle) and Klose (leg) stayed behind in England for further medical tests after picking up the injuries in Saturday’s pre-season win at Cambridge United.

Farke must now plan for the opening weekend trip to Fulham on August 5 without two key players.

“Not good news,” he said. “With Timm a muscle injury. Thankfully, just a muscle injury because that was a concern for me that he might have broken his leg with the challenge. He will be at for at least five weeks. After that he can probably return to the team training. To be fit for 90 minutes will be longer. We will do without him for the start of the season. There is an international break in there, which helps but I don’t expect him back before then for the starting XI.”

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Pritchard was stretchered off late on at Cambridge in a challenge that left Farke seething.

“For Alex we have to wait a little bit longer but the first diagnosis is not good,” he said. “There will be some other meetings with the doctor but for sure he will be out for at least six weeks, maybe a little bit more time. Not good news because they were injuries through fouls in a friendly game. I am little bit angry about this. I know it is football and the guys want to win when they are standing on the pitch.

“They were two unnecessary fouls, without any discipline. We have to accept it, we can’t change it. Alex, for sure is one of the most important guys in the offense, and Timm in the defence. In my planning Timm and Alex play a very important role but in pre-season we are trying to work with all the guys, to build the confidence and this won’t change our working style. For sure, I have to find some solutions how we replace the guys in the first few games.”

Ivo Pinto and Wes Hoolahan trained separately from the rest of the group as they step up their fitness.

“We hope Ivo will return to the team training in the next week, which would be good for him,” said Farke. “He won’t be in 100pc shape and fitness condition for the first game but each day he’s able to train in pre-season will help him. I hope he can return in the next week so he has at least nine or ten days of pre-season.

“Wes has had some more sessions than Ivo. We have to work hard with him so he’s able to get ready for many minutes of Championship football.

“It’s important for him he has some sessions on the pitch with the guys.”