Norwich are on a four-match winless run going into their game at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday
Norwich City head coach Daniel Farke says he must "resist temptation" to bring playmaker Alex Pritchard back early from his ankle injury.
Pritchard, 24, has been out since mid-July and has had surgery, but returned for the club's under-23 side on Monday.
But Farke says he must resist the urge to rush back the former Brentford man.
"You have to be realistic, experienced and calmed down enough to know he's only able to help when he's back 100%," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.
"When you have a player like Alex Pritchard - who is for me a key player for our game and, in this area of the pitch, 100% one of the best players in the Championship - the temptation is big to bring him back.
"It's hard to say we have to calm down and wait perhaps some more games, but at least then we have him back for the last 25 games of the season and for the crunch time of the season."
Ex-Tottenham and Swindon player Pritchard joined Norwich in August 2016 for an undisclosed fee, and scored seven times in 35 appearances last term.
The Canaries have lacked options in midfield of late, with Tom Trybull and Alex Tettey also sidelined.
"Yes, the temptation is big [to bring Pritchard back] but we have to be smart and we have to be patient and calm down. That's my job and I try to handle it," added Farke.
Source: bbc.com