There’s never a good time to have an injury crisis but the Christmas fixture list has to be up there with the very worst. Brentford face an uphill battle when they head to the Amex on Friday. Nick Bruzon previews.
Brentford head into Friday’s game at Brighton with even more bad news for Thomas Frank on the fitness front. Added to the already lengthy casualty list is Kris Ajer, who has been declared ‘Out for weeks’ with an ankle injury following his coming together with Callum Hudson-Odoi in Saturday’s home reverse to Nottingham Forest.
Ethan Pinnock remains absent for the trip to the Amex. Not unexpected although his prognosis isn’t great, with Thomas using the press conference to confirm, “It’ll be weeks with a hamstring injury”.
Likewise missing from the backline is Sepp van den Berg. The plus side, relatively speaking, being that his injury is deemed “Minor” although noted that “It’s going to be too short a turnaround for Brighton… let’s see for Arsenal.”
Mathias Jensen is still out although Thomas seemed vaguely optimistic of a return for the Arsenal game. Igor Thiago, however, is another of those missing for ‘weeks’. Still suffering with the joint infection that has caused him to sit out the last two games. This is before you get to the regulars in the medical room: Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva and Gustavo Nunes.
All in all, not great for the Bees although the starting XI still looks tasty. Even if it does name itself. Mark Flekken in nets. KLP and Mads Roerslev on the flanks with Nathan Collins and Ben Mee in the centre. A midfield of Norgaard, Damsgaard and Janelt with that front three of Wissa, Mbeumo and Schade.
Surely not even Thomas Frank can shuffle his pack any further? Yehor Yarmoliuk is probably the player most likely to break into this set up although I’m sure we’ll start with the regulars. Go for goal early as at Spurs and Manchester City. Certainly, over-cautious starts on the road have seen the Bees falling behind.
One can only imagine that training for the next week or so will consist of practice on FC 24 whilst donning the cotton wool tracksuits. Yet whatever blows fate has dealt on the fitness front, those who remain still have more than enough about them to do a job.
Moreso given Brighton have gone off the boil recently. At least, by their quite wonderful standards. Nobody can knock the team they have built or the phenomenal levels to which they have stepped up in recent seasons.
A blistering start to this campaign has since seen a wobble in the last five games. Draws against Southampton, Leicester City and West Ham United have been accompanied by defeats to both Fulham and Crystal Palace. Yet they are still just a win away from fifth place.
Both teams will go into this with their own takes on why victory may well be forthcoming. The Seagulls facing a patched up team. The Bees looking to kick them whilst they are down. No doubt the home team will see themselves as favourites – if for no other reason given the Bees’ own anti-form on their travels. That solitary point at Everton all they have to show as we approach the midway point in the campaign.
Of course, football doesn’t really work like that. Especially in the Premier League where anybody can beat anybody. Southampton aside.
Thomas Frank can’t change what has gone before. He has no control over who is currently injured. The one thing you can say is that Brentford will give it their all – players and fans aside.
Here’s hoping for a Merry Christmas….
