Brentfordvs.Newcastle

The Brazilian has come off the bench in three successive matches since recovering from a pre-season knee injury, and Thomas Frank has already suggested that he is fit enough to make the first XI.

With rotation likely after a midweek game, Thiago has every right to feel optimistic about his chances of a full Premier League debut, potentially in place of Kevin Schade in the final third.

The German scored a phenomenal hat-trick against Leicester City last weekend, but he could not impact proceedings in the 3-1 loss to Aston Villa on Thursday and may make way for Thiago here.

The latter would occupy a central role in between offensive cornerstones Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo, although Frank is sweating over a couple of injury doubts further back, as Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen missed the trip to Villa Park with minor problems.

If either one is passed fit for the weekend, they should displace Yehor Yarmolyuk in the midfield triumvirate, where Mikkel Damsgaard and Vitaly Janelt should both reprise their roles.

Rico Henry is still not yet fit following his severe knee injury, while Aaron Hickey is also on the mend from a thigh problem, but Frank may see fit to make a change at full-back anyway.

Indeed, Mads Roerslev is pushing to come in for Keane Lewis-Potter, meaning that Sepp van den Berg could switch to the left-hand side of an otherwise unaltered backline.

Brentford possible starting lineup:

Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Van den Berg; Norgaard, Janelt, Damsgaard; Mbeumo, Thiago, Wissa

Written by

Ben Knapton