Cardiff City have been dealt a major blow in their bid for Championship survival with top goalscorer Callum Robinson ruled out until after the international break.
Robinson appeared to be struggling in the final 10 minutes of the win against Reading last weekend, feeling his hamstring and hobbling about until he was eventually brought off in injury time, with Cardiff finishing the game with 10 men as a result.
The forward, who has seven goals and six assists this term, went for a scan on Tuesday and manager Sabri Lamouchi confirmed that his worst fears were realised.
"It's the worst case," Lamouchi said. "He will be not available for sure not before the international break. One month. The next five games he will be not with us.
"It's his hamstring. At the end we supposed it was cramp. It was just a hamstring. We did some tests and it's a grade two (tear). The next couple of games he will be not in the squad and not available to play.
"This is not good news. Because he was doing well. Scoring, assisting. He is our top scorer. And it's difficult to score for us this year. So we need to find a solution. We can't complain.
"I'm disappointed for him because he worked so hard against Middlesbrough, Birmingham and Reading, with assisting, scoring, great performances. We will miss him."
That means he will miss games against Norwich City, Bristol City, Preston North End, West Brom and Rotherham United, a crucial stretch with City hovering just four points above the relegation zone.
In slightly more positive news, though, Lamouchi confirmed that Callum O'Dowda, who also went for a scan on his knee on Tuesday, is "absolutely" available for the clash against the Canaries on Saturday. Jaden Philogene, who also ended the game with a limp, has been cleared to play.
As Lamouchi alluded to, Robinson's absence will be sorely felt in a team which has struggled for goals all season. The Bluebirds are the Championship's lowest scorers this season.
However, his injury presents an opportunity for someone else to step in and make their mark. Bluebirds academy products Isaak Davies, Rubin Colwill and Mark Harris all played in the under-21s' midweek match against Millwall this week, with the latter scoring a peach of a goal to open the scoring.
Asked whether they might now figure in light of the Robinson news, Lamouchi added: "They are training with us and training good.
"They are absolutely good boys, with potential. If we can use them, we will do it. Any player who is able to help the team get maximum points deserves to play."
Cardiff travel to ninth-placed Norwich on Saturday on the back of two wins over Birmingham City and Reading. Confidence appears to be as high as it has been in some time in camp and the manager is keen to see how that translates onto the pitch at Carrow Road.
"It's about the mindset and mentality of the players," he added. "It's not about the system. It's not about the technique.
"It's about uniting the group together. They are stronger and they are making the difference.
"I'm so curious to see my team there in Norwich. I want to see more confidence in them. It will be tough, but an interesting game to play.
"We go there to try and disturb them the best we can."
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