Daniel Farke has told ‘devastated’ Bali Mumba the sun will shine again after a knee injury ruled the Norwich City youngster out until February.

Mumba’s vibrant cameo helped turn the last Championship contest against Swansea City prior to the international break.

Farke revealed on Friday afternoon the teenager damaged his knee in training and will miss a congested spell that begins with the trip to Middlesbrough. Adam Idah suffered a similar knee issue on international duty, but the duo do not require surgery.

“It seems we can handle both in a conservative way,” said Farke. “Bali rolled his knee, maybe caught it a bit in the grass. I was pretty shocked because I knew at this moment he had done something. If the ligament had been completely interrupted it would have been surgery. There is also a small injury on his patella, which is all connected.

“There was no contact, it wasn’t a duel. If all goes to plan we hope to have him available in ten weeks.

“He was so down and we will allow him to be devastated for a couple of days and then he must work hard to come back stronger.

“I had a chat with him and he was unbelievably disappointed. Football careers are not always the sun is shining. There can be rain and you have to accept this. We can’t wait for him to come back.”

Mumba’s eye-catching Championship impact against the Swans evoked memories of Max Aarons’ breakthrough during the club’s previous title winning season at this level for Farke.

“I felt it was similar to Max in terms of how he had to wait a few weeks for his chance early in the season and then to see how much he had grown when he got it,” said the City chief. “Max was fantastic on his debut at Ipswich and from this moment on he stayed in the side and improved more or less day to day.

“We got the feeling Bali was ready to be thrown into the mix after a fantastic display against Swansea so it is a big blow to be out for two and a half months.”

Idah suffered his knee ligament injury after playing in the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League defeat to Wales.

“He got a hit on his foot and that caused a twist to the knee, with the same outcome as Bali,” said Farke. “No surgery and the same timescale. Horrendous news for both and not good for us in this period of many games.”