Norwich City boss Chris Hughton confirmed on Friday afternoon midfielder Alex Tettey will be out for two months after undergoing ankle ligament surgery.

Tettey suffered the damage in a crunching late collision with Cardiff's Fraizer Campbell in last weekend's goalless Premier League draw with the Bluebirds.

Hughton feared the worst when he spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of this weekend's trip to Manchester City when he hinted Tettey would be sidelined for 'several weeks'. The Norwegian had forced his way back into the first team in a holding central midfield role in recent weeks but will now be missing until the New Year.

'Unfortunately for Alex we feared the worst immediately after he did the injury because he felt so sore for a few days afterwards,' said Hughton. 'He has now had an operation on area just above his ankle which will keep him out for perhaps a couple of months. Alex took a whack to an area just above his ankle and it is still very sore. He has damaged the ligament just above the ankle. I thought he was playing really well. We know the type of player Alex is and he was doing that role very, very well. It's a big blow for us and for the lad.'

Tettey was not part of the squad who flew up to Manchester on Friday lunchtime. Club record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel (foot) will also miss out and midfield duo Robert Snodgrass (concussion) and Nathan Redmond (hip) are unlikely to be fit. Jacob and Josh Murphy have both travelled with the first team squad as cover.