Adam Idah ruled out for the rest of the season with injury

The Cork youngster has been a key figure for Norwich in their recent renaissance

Norwich City’s Adam Idah celebrates and own goal by Everton’s Michael Keane during the Premier League match at Carrow Road, Norwich. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA Wire 

Adam Idah's impressive breakthrough season in the Premier League has been brought to a premature end by a knee injury.

The Republic of Ireland striker, who turned 21 earlier in the month, was hurt in Norwich's 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace on February 9.

It was not initially thought to be a serious setback but further diagnosis on the Cork man revealed the need for an operation, which was performed on Thursday.

Norwich manager Dean Smith said: "He went and had an arthroscopy and ended up having meniscus repair which has probably put him out for the season.

"It's a big blow because he broke into the team and was doing well. It's disappointing for him and for the team.

"Adam is a young player with an awful lot of potential who was getting better. He had just had his first Premier League start and scored his first Premier League goal, which had given him an awful lot of confidence.

"It was during the Palace game that it happened. There was a tackle where he planted his foot and he hurt his ankle and his knee in the same incident but played on.

"The next day he came in for his recovery session and just felt a little bit stiff. He came in the day after that and it was still stiff and that was the time he reported it to the medical staff.

"Unfortunately he had meniscus damage that had to be repaired.

"It seemed very innocuous, one that you were hoping he could run off, but unfortunately there was more damage than that."

Idah established himself at the start of the season as Norwich's first choice when it came to back up to top-scorer Teemu Pukki, who operated as a lone striker under previous manager Daniel Farke.

Smith, who replaced the German in November, began to start Idah alongside Pukki in 4-4-2 formation and saw the Irishman net his first Premier League goal in the 2-1 win over Everton in January.

The news is a blow to Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, who will have to do without Idah for the upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Lithuania in late March.

His participation in the four Nations League games in June is now also in jeopardy.