Norwich City striker James Vaughan has reportedly been ruled out until the New Year with the knee injury suffered in the club's televised Premier League win over Sunderland.

City have yet to officially confirm a national press report the 23-year-old will be sidelined for at least four months after undergoing surgery on Tuesday to repair the left knee which locked during a late cameo against the Black Cats. Vaughan initially attempted to stay on the pitch, but was forced to hobble out of the action aided by Norwich's medical staff.

Vaughan's career has been blighted by a series of injuries since damaging knee ligaments in 2005 – although City boss Paul Lambert revealed on Monday night the latest blow had occurred to the other knee.

The Birmingham-born striker has endured a wretched start to his Norwich career following a summer move from Everton. Vaughan was ruled out of the early weeks of the new season with a knee problem picked up at the club's German training camp. The ex-England U21 starlet then suffered a nasty gashed lip on his return to the fray against West Brom earlier this month. The striker came off worst in an ugly elbowing incident with West Brom defender Gabriel Tamas that landed the Romanian a retrospective three match FA ban for violent conduct.

City's number eight – Lambert's first summer signing after impressing during a loan spell last season at Crystal Palace – has yet to start a game for the Canaries and his potential long term absence leaves Lambert unable to bolster his striking ranks until January.