Mohamed Toure will miss months of Championship football after Norwich City manager Philippe Clement confirmed the striker requires surgery on a shoulder injury sustained during Sunday's 4-3 defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Toure lasted just 15 minutes at Carrow Road before leaving the field, and Clement described the injury as a "bad one". The 22-year-old has since been withdrawn from Australia's squad for a forthcoming double-header of friendlies with Brazil, underlining the seriousness of the setback.

The timing is a significant blow for a Norwich side sitting 17th in the Championship after eight games. Toure had been one of the division's most prolific forwards since arriving at the club in February, scoring 14 league goals in 18 appearances. Losing that output during a run in which the Canaries have won three and lost five league fixtures sharpens the task facing Clement over the weeks ahead.

Toure is not the only casualty from the Bolton match. Captain Kenny McLean and Ben Chrisene both picked up knocks and face a number of weeks out. Clement acknowledged the full picture is still being assessed.

"The others are all still assessed, but we will lose a few players," the Norwich head coach said. "It was a frantic game in every sense. We lose a few players with contact, you cannot do something about. It's part of football. It gives chances for other players again."

Clement moved to frame the international break as an opportunity rather than an inconvenience. With fixtures paused, Norwich can use the fortnight to work on the issues that have contributed to their inconsistent start, and to integrate the players who will now need to step up in the coming weeks.

"We need to use this break to reset and make it strong for this second lap of eight games," Clement told BBC Radio Norfolk. "We wanted more out of these eight games, but we're going to use these weeks really well to improve things again."

The Canaries return to Championship action on 10 October with a trip to the early leaders Swansea City, a fixture that already carried significant weight in the context of Norwich's push to move clear of the lower reaches of the table. The absence of Toure, McLean and Chrisene makes that assignment considerably harder.

Clement's squad depth will face an immediate test. Norwich's remaining forwards will need to carry a heavier goalscoring burden, and the manager will be expected to find a tactical arrangement that does not rely on an injured talisman. How he reshapes his attack during the break, and which players respond to the opportunity, could define the shape of Norwich's season heading into the autumn.

With 38 league games still to play, the window to recover lost ground remains wide open. But replacing Toure's goals in the short term represents one of the stiffest challenges of Clement's tenure at Carrow Road so far.

Frequently asked

How long is Mohamed Toure out for Norwich?
Manager Philippe Clement confirmed Toure faces months out after sustaining a shoulder injury against Bolton Wanderers. The striker requires surgery and has been withdrawn from international duty with Australia.
What injury did Mohamed Toure pick up?
Toure suffered a shoulder injury in the 15th minute of Norwich City's 4-3 Championship defeat by Bolton Wanderers at Carrow Road, and Clement described it as a bad injury that will require surgery.
Who else is injured at Norwich City?
Alongside Toure, captain Kenny McLean and Ben Chrisene both sustained knocks in the Bolton match and face a number of weeks on the sidelines. Clement said the full extent of the squad's injuries was still being assessed.