Paul Lambert admitted his Norwich City squad is hurting after Saturday's FA Cup exit - but is expecting them to bounce back at Southend tonight (7.45pm).

Paul Lambert admitted his Norwich City squad is hurting after Saturday's FA Cup exit - but is expecting them to bounce back at Southend tonight (7.45pm).

The Canaries return to League One action at Roots Hall hoping after a poor second-half showing at Carlisle, hoping to maintain their five-game unbeaten run in the league. Lambert said: "It was really quiet (at training on Sunday) as you would expect. They were hurting from Saturday, but you bounce back, that's the nature of the game. You bounce back as quick as you can. They've done it before. They've done it when we got beaten at Leeds, they've done it when we got beaten at MK Dons and against Sunderland. I've seen in the top eight or nine in the Premier League, in the last six or seven games, every one of them has lost a game. Everybody's disappointed but we'll bounce back, that's for sure."

While mid-table Southend lost at bottom side Tranmere in their last outing a week ago, they have proven to be much trickier opponents at home this season.

"I went there with Colchester last year and it's a hard place to go but we have to bounce back and I'm pretty sure the lads will be ready for it and try to rectify what went wrong on Saturday," said Lambert.

"I notice Tranmere beat them at home the other week. The onus is on the home team to make the running and we have to fight and battle first before we win any game."

Loan signing Anthony McNamee comes into contention for the first time since his switch from Swindon last week, after being cup-tied for Carlisle. However, Lambert is sweating over the fitness of Darel Russell who suffered a dead leg in Cumbria.

Centre-back Jens Berthel Askou should be available again and if Lambert does opt to shake things up after Saturday's loss, Stephen Hughes and City's second new arrival, right-back Russell Martin, could benefit.