Brentford captain Christian Norgaard’s return from injury against West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday is a “close call”, manager Thomas Frank has said.
Midfielder Norgaard missed his side’s 3-1 defeat at Tottenham last Saturday with an issue described as “minor” by the Bees, having been ever-present as they earned six points from their first four matches.
Midfielder Paris Maghoma will intensify his workload next week following an ankle injury, while Frank said left-back Rico Henry is “a little bit further” behind in his comeback from a long-term knee injury.
“What a wonderful advert for the Premier League” 🙌
We shaded a five-goal thriller the last time West Ham visited the Gtech 👊 pic.twitter.com/bQXBeRA0yC
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) September 27, 2024
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Brentford injuries
“I’d definitely prefer to have fewer injuries,” said Frank, who added that record signing Igor Thiago is “still too far away for me to get excited about him coming back” as the £30 million striker recovers from a knee injury he sustained during pre-season.
“We have been unlucky but it happens and it is part of football. Some teams can be more hit than others. How can we get them back playing?
“How can we accelerate that process? We are working on that but it is up to me and the players who are fit and available to perform and find the best solution.”
The Bees ❤🐝 pic.twitter.com/A384MLGI61
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) September 26, 2024
Brentford vs West Ham
New West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui is under pressure after a four-game winless run including a 3-0 defeat at home to Chelsea last Saturday and a 5-1 thrashing at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Frank said the Hammers have “some really top players” and is particularly impressed by Lopetegui’s attacking options, singling out Crysencio Summerville, Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta.
Brentford have beaten Crystal Palace and Southampton in the league and Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup in their three games this season at the Gtech Community Stadium, which Frank wants to make a “fortress”.
“Last year we were okay at home at best,” he reflected. “The year before we were really, really good. We know when we are on it and the fans are on it – it needs to be both – it is a difficult place to come.”
🙌 @Bmbeumo19 joining our 100 @premierleague appearance club! pic.twitter.com/4mggbrFUeo
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) September 24, 2024
Brentford goals: ‘Clear plan’
The Dane has seen his side score during the opening minute of successive losses at Spurs and Manchester City. “We work on it – no doubt about it,” Frank said of the lightning-quick goals.
“We have a clear plan for it. We know it’s difficult to score every single time from a kick-off. We have players around where the ball drops and then we play from there and maybe teams are not ready.
“Our aim is always to try to score one more goal. You get two up – that’s the aim and the philosophy. It can be a little bit difficult sometimes against any team in the Premier League – especially, for example, City and Tottenham.”
