As Brentford prepares to face Sunderland in their Premier League encounter at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, head coach Keith Andrews has confirmed that midfielder Mathias Jensen will not be available for selection. Jensen, who missed last weekend's match against Leeds United, is dealing with a minor injury that has kept him sidelined.
Andrews stated, "No, he won’t be back. He has a little issue. He’ll miss this week and possibly next week." The coach emphasized that while Jensen's condition is not serious, it will take some time for him to fully recover. The absence of Jensen is a setback for the Bees as they look to build on their recent performances.
Despite Jensen's unavailability, Andrews reported that there are no new injury concerns following the team's trip to Elland Road. He remarked, "The usual knocks and bruises, as you’d imagine with the level of game we had at Leeds. The players have recovered well and trained well. We’re in a really good place." This positive update suggests that the rest of the squad is fit and ready to compete.
However, the news is not as optimistic for Josh Dasilva, who suffered a hamstring injury during Brentford Under-21s' impressive 5-1 victory over Sunderland earlier this week. Andrews explained that Dasilva will be sidelined until the upcoming international break. "It’s nothing too serious, but it’s obviously disappointing for him as he’s making his way back to that type of level, intensity, and the performance levels he needs to get to," he said. Dasilva's injury is particularly frustrating as he was showing signs of returning to form after a lengthy absence.
On a brighter note, Sepp van den Berg is making significant strides in his recovery from a groin injury. Andrews indicated that van den Berg has been back on the training pitch for the past week and is expected to return to the squad after the international break. "Sepp is making really good progress," Andrews noted. "He’s in a good place to come back after the international break. That’s realistic." This development offers hope for Brentford as they aim to strengthen their defensive options.
Additionally, Antoni Milambo is also on the road to recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Andrews shared that Milambo has been actively involved in training and is likely to feature for Brentford B in the coming weeks. "Antoni’s looking really good. He’s moving well. He was involved in an 11 v 11 on Wednesday, which was his first involvement in that type of scale and intensity," Andrews said. This progress is encouraging for both Milambo and the club as they look to bolster their squad depth.
As Brentford gears up for their match against Sunderland, the team will need to navigate these injury challenges while maintaining their momentum in the Premier League. With the squad recovering well and players like van den Berg and Milambo nearing returns, the Bees are hopeful of a strong performance against Sunderland.
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