Grant Hanley’s Norwich City comeback is on hold after a hamstring-related setback ruled him out of a Championship return against Cardiff City.

Head coach David Wagner revealed after the timely 3-2 victory on Saturday Hanley was in his plans at the start of the week before a muscular issue.

Fellow centre backs Ben Gibson (foot) and the suspended Shane Duffy were ruled out, but Danny Batth and Jaden Warner featured against the Bluebirds.

Hanley has not played a first team game since damaging his Achilles in April and undergoing surgery. The 31-year-old played 67 minutes of a recent development game but is now set to be sidelined for the rest of the month.

“It looks not too serious. Three to four weeks maybe he is out,” confirmed Wagner. “Unfortunately he got a muscle injury this past week in training and he was not able to make it.

"At the beginning of the week he was in our plan for this game. To be involved in the squad, or even more, nobody knows how the training week would have looked like, but unfortunately he got an injury. A small setback but a setback.

“But we are really looking forward to having back because in the three and a half weeks, four weeks when he was with us and training he’d already shown what a great professional, and what an important character he is for us.”

The Norwich boss is hopeful keeper Angus Gunn and forward Ashley Barnes are in the mix for QPR’s Championship visit the other side of this international fortnight.

Gunn has not featured since departing with a muscular issue to his left leg in the home defeat to Leeds on October 21.

Barnes was ruled out with knee ligament damage the previous month against Leicester.

“Hopefully with some players back after the international break, like Gunny and Barnsey, maybe Forsy (Adam Forshaw) as well, hopefully this is our turning point,” said Wagner. “We must continue to at least perform like we've done at Cardiff. Win, lose or draw nobody knows but we have to make sure that we perform on a decent level.”

Forshaw (hamstring) was ruled out prior to the Cardiff win. Josh Sargent (ankle) and Jacob Sorensen (pelvic-related) are longer term absentees.