NORWICH boss Glenn Roeder today confirmed that City 'keeper Matthew Gilks is set to be out of action for at least 11 weeks.

Gilks picked up ligament damage after twisting his ankle in training on Thursday.

The City boss explained that the problem is very similar to the injury that David Marshall suffered against Chelsea in last year's FA Cup fifth round match at Stamford Bridge. On that occasion, the Scottish international missed the remainder of the campaign after picking up the injury in February.

The injury comes as a blow to Roeder, who now has only Steven Arnold as goalkeeping back-up to current number one Marshall in his professional ranks.

Fellow professional stoppers Joe Lewis and Paul Gallacher are currently on loan to Morecambe and Dunfermline respectively, with neither eligible for recall until January 1 under the terms of their deals.

With only Arnold free to take Gilks' place on the substitutes' bench against Coventry City this Saturday, the teenager has been wrapped in cotton wool and withdrawn from Monday night's reserve match with Northampton at Carrow Road. Goalkeeping coach James Hollman will instead dust off his gloves and take his place between the sticks for the second string.