Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has some decisions to make in midfield ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The game may, however, come too soon for the German midfielder, while Nigeria international Frank Onyeka will definitely miss the match.
“Frank has a minor, minor injury,”
Brentford’s head coach explained on Monday.
“Vita[ly] had the knee problem but [it is] very good news. It was a minor injury against Southampton and he was on the grass today which is positive.
”But it will probably be too early for Wednesday night. Frank will be out for Wednesday.“
One midfielder who will be available again is Shandon Baptiste, who is returning from a ban. Elsewhere for the Londoners, defender Kristoffer Ajer and forward Keane Lewis-Potter are out.
In our own midfield, Erik ten Hag will be without Casemiro - who will serve the third game of his four-match suspension - .and former Bee Christian Eriksen, although our no.14 did return to team training today, as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.
“They have very good players, no matter what,”
Frank said, when speaking about United’s midfield absentees.
“Let's say Fred and [Scott] McTominay play there, they are very good and are doing fantastic in many ways.
”I guess Manchester United think that Eriksen and Casemiro are two of their better players and every team wants their best players on the pitch.
“But United have such a strong squad - they will put a decent team out there! They will create problems for us on Wednesday night.”
His side may have got the better of us in August’s reverse fixture, and they have only lost once in their last 16 Premier League outings, but the Dane insists that he expects a strong test from United.
“We are potentially going into the most difficult game of the season, with everything taken into consideration,”he added.
“We are going away to the biggest away ground, with those fans, against a very good side that are much more stable.
“Erik ten Hag and his staff have done a very good job. They’ve just won their first trophy and they’re fighting for a Champions League spot.
“They lost [on Sunday] so they will want to bounce back. Plus, we beat them last time, so they’ll doubly want to bounce back. They’re a very good team with top players.”