Brentford v Leeds United: Lee Sobot's score prediction
Leeds United head to the Gtech Community Stadium for a big Premier League away-day this weekend.
Brentford boss Keith Andrews expects to have Reiss Nelson back in the matchday squad for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Leeds United.
Nelson hasn’t played for Brentford since coming off the bench in a 3-1 win over Burnley on November 29, just his third appearance of the campaign. The winger, who signed on loan from Arsenal in the summer, picked up a small knock in that victory and missed defeats against his parent club and their North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur so far this month.
Brentford will be without one of their key attackers on Sunday, with three-goal German international Kevin Schade suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season at Spurs. Attacking midfielders Fabio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo are both out for the season after suffering anterior cruciate ligament injuries in recent months.
"Reiss is doing pretty well," Andrews said. "He took a knock a week or so ago, so we'll see how he shapes up for Sunday. He should be in and around being available for Sunday. We'll see how he goes over the next few days.”
Nelson has struggled to get regular football at Brentford, thanks in part to fitness issues, but his return could prove to be a well-timed boost for Andrews. The Bees boss is already without Schade, Carvalho and Milambo on Sunday while winger Dango Ouattara will soon be heading off to represent Burkina Faso in the African Cup of Nations.
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“With a couple of the injuries to Nelson, Fabio, Antoni - attacking players - obviously that leaves a void in the squad of three talented players. Dango going away, Kevin being suspended, that obviously stretches the squad in certain areas.
“That’s football really. Players will sometimes have to be patient, sometimes they’ll be frustrated with a lack of minutes and the nature of it. You need a squad, you need players that can compete on a daily basis to set the environment that’s needed to really play with an edge.
“I think we do that pretty well. The player even when they're not playing, they’re attitude is pretty impeccable really. There’s going to be opportunities for lots of players over the coming weeks. The nature of the games we have and the schedule over Christmas is a busy one.”
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