Long-serving Canaries keeper John Ruddy is fit for a return to action but faces a fight for the keeper's jersey.

Summer signing Michael McGovern has had the gloves since the 29-year-old hurt his groin in the 0-0 home draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

City boss Alex Neil confirmed Ruddy 'should be okay' for today's clash with Cardiff but admitted McGovern has impressed since his arrival.

'I think I do have a tough choice,' Neil said. 'Michael's done absolutely nothing wrong in any of the games.

'If anything, certainly in the Birmingham game, he made some good saves and I thought his starting position was good. So it will be a tough decision.'

Martin Olsson will be a 'last-minute call' as he makes his way back from a hamstring injury, which means Robbie Brady is likely to continue at left-back against the Bluebirds.

Neil said he felt the international duo were sufficient to cover at left-back, allowing Harry Toffolo to go out on loan to League One side Scunthorpe until January late in the transfer window.

'Obviously there was a lot of (transfer) speculation over Martin Olsson and Robbie Brady so obviously Harry was there but the fact that it became apparent that those two guys were going to be with us, Harry's time was going to be limited,' Neil explained. 'So I think it was only fair to him to get him games because we don't want to stop his progress.'

Talented midfielder James Maddison was also allowed to go on loan to Aberdeen until January, with Neil adding: 'I'd liked to have kept James but I couldn't have promised him as much game-time as I felt he needs and he wanted.'