Nathaniel Mendez-Laing will miss three months

Cardiff winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing faces three months on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury.

Mendez-Laing was carried off during the Premier League draw against Huddersfield three days ago, and City manager Neil Warnock confirmed – after a 3-1 Carabao Cup second-round loss to Norwich – the extent of his injury.

"He has done his posterior cruciate ligament, which is good news, my physio says, because if he had done his anterior that’s all season," Warnock said.

"Whereas [with a posterior cruciate ligament injury] he will probably hopefully be back in December. It will be about three months."

Cardiff boss Neil Warnock has confirmed Mendez-Laing will be out for three months

Dennis Srbeny’s double and a solo Max Aarons goal left Cardiff to contemplate a painful second-round exit. Bluebirds captain Bruno Manga’s 77th-minute header was nothing more than a consolation effort, although it ended Cardiff’s goal drought this season after 347 minutes.

Warnock fielded a team showing nine changes from the side that collected a point at Huddersfield on Saturday, but Norwich head coach Daniel Farke made 10, retaining only midfielder Tom Trybull following a 3-0 defeat against Leeds last time out.

"I think it showed that quite a lot of the lads needed games," Warnock added. "You need competitive games. We had better chances than them. It [result] is disappointing.

"I more or less know what my team is going to be for Sunday [against Arsenal], and tonight didn’t put me off that. Ten out of 11 players I have got in my mind.

1:43 Cardiff 1-3 Norwich Cardiff 1-3 Norwich

"As I said to the lads afterwards, it shows you have got to train really hard if you are not in the team so that you take your opportunity when it comes.

"I think the depth is there. We have just got to make sure we keep the fitness levels up of the lads that are not involved, because it is such a massive step. The Premier League is 100 times more than what the Championship is in terms of movement."

Norwich, 18th in the Championship, were good value for their win, which was secured by two goals in five second-half minutes.

Farke said: "I am pleased. An away win against a Premier League side is always a good result and performance. The performance was really outstanding. We were really clinical in terms of our finishing.

"A win is always good for confidence and the mood, especially when it is such a good performance. It is important we keep on performing at this level. There were many good performances, and it is good to have competition in the squad."