Norwich City's on-loan wide player Jacob Murphy is learning about the harsh realties of life outside the Premier League after an FA Cup exit and a run-in with the Coventry City boo-boys.

The 20-year-old scored for the Sky Blues on Saturday but was unable to prevent an embarrassing first round 2-1 home exit to lower league Northampton Town at the Ricoh Arena.

Alex Neil granted Murphy permission to play in the competition, but Tony Mowbray's squad was missing League One's leading scorer Adam Armstrong, Liverpool's Ryan Kent and Aston Villa's Joe Cole who were not eligible to avoid being cup-tied for their parent clubs later in the competition.

Murphy, however, insisted that was no excuse for losing to the Cobblers and missing out on a lucrative run.

'The whole point of having a big squad is that players come in and take their chances to fight for the shirt,' he said. 'We have a lot of depth in the squad and when players come in it's about taking your opportunity. It's tough to say (if they wanted it more). On the day we had a lot more of the ball but they stuck to their plan and all credit to them. We're bitterly disappointed. It was a game we should have won.'

Murphy will expect to retain his place in the Coventry starting line up when he goes back to one of his former loan clubs, Colchester United, this weekend in League One.

The Canaries' starlet had a pivotal role in the recent 3-2 comeback win over Peterborough which kept the Sky Blues a point behind the leaders. Murphy set up Armstrong's winning brace that day, but only after enduring criticism from the home fans as Posh raced into a 2-0 lead.

'The first half of that game wasn't great for me and I saw the frustration on the faces of the fans so I thought I had to pay them back by producing the goods, and I was pleased to help Arma get on the scoresheet,' he said. 'I was just running around telling myself to stay focused and concentrate, knowing that it would come good. I back myself most times.'

Coventry boss Mowbray is in no doubt the highly-rated Murphy will prove his class during a season-long stint in the West Midlands.

'I think people have to accept that wingers are going to be inconsistent,' he said. 'Especially young wingers, who are young boys away from home and their families, uncertain of lots of things as they grow up, and becoming a man really.

'If he does take a bit of flak and take a few boos because they take players on and lose it a few times, that's okay. It helps them grow up and learn but what's pleasing is he continued right to the death to back his talent to take his opponents on.

'Sometimes players can take it hard and not want the ball but that's not the case with Jacob because he got stronger and stronger as the game went on.'

Murphy is one of 13 Norwich players currently out on loan.

Fellow academy graduate Harry Toffolo's initial one-month loan deal at Rotherham expires over the international break, but Millers' boss Neil Redfearn has made it clear they want to extend the left-back's stay.

'They have requested a loan extension,' confirmed Neil, speaking prior to Norwich's weekend win over Swansea. 'So I will sit down during the international break and decide what is best for both the player and the club.'