Paul Lambert has delivered on his loan promise after signing promising Arsenal youngster Henri Lansbury.

The Canaries boss has been hit by a spate of injuries that has reduced a once bulging midfield to its bare bones - prompting a rare move into the loan market.

'I'm delighted Arsenal have agreed to let Henri come here,' said Lambert. 'I saw him when he was at Watford and Scunthorpe and he's a quality young player, very positive in his play.

'We have been hit with injuries and midfield is one of the areas where we needed strengthening. Henri gives us more options in there, which is important.'

Korey Smith is City's latest casualty, having missed the weekend draw with Leeds because of an ankle injury - joining Stephen Hughes and Matt Gill in the treatment room. Andrew Surman has only just returned after a nine-week absence through injury, while Simon Lappin has been seconded to left-back duties because of injuries to Adam Drury and Steven Smith.

The Enfield-born Lansbury has joined on a 28-day emergency deal - only the seventh time Lambert has taken a loanee, although two of his deals then went on to become permanent.

Lansbury returns to familiar scenery, having started his footballing career at Norwich as a schoolboy before leaving at the age of nine to join Arsenal.

He brings with him plenty of Championship experience: the 20-year-old made 34 league appearances, scoring five goals, while on a season-long loan at Malky Mackay's Watford last season - when he scored five goals - as well as starting a dozen games for Scunthorpe in League One the previous season.

His return from Watford wasn't the end of his season - he made his first Premier League appearance as a substitute in the Gunners' 4-0 win over Fulham on the final day of the top-flight campaign.

Otherwise, his Arsenal appearances have been restricted to the League Cup, although his last outing brought him a goal in the north London derby win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane in September.

A product of the Arsenal Academy, Lansbury was at Carrow Road in October when he was an unused sub for Stuart Pearce's England Under-21 side that beat Romania 2-1.

His made his full debut for the Under-21s last week in Germany - and played the final 32 minutes of a 2-0 defeat as an emergency keeper after sub Jason Steele, who had replaced Scott Loach, had been sent off.