Brentford have encountered a difficult start to the new campaign, with Dean Smith’s men picking up just two points from their opening five encounters.

Touted as dark horses for a place in the top six, the Bees have it all to do if they are to turn their season around, a task made more difficult by the triple departure of Jota, Harlee Dean and Maxime Colin to Birmingham City.

Smith will dust his squad down from the trials and tribulations of transfer deadline-day, and look to get his side’s season back on track as the Bees travel to Aston Villa.

The club hold a good record over the former Premier League side since their relegation to the second tier, picking up a win and a draw in their two fixtures against the Villains last term.

Smith has choices to make in regard to his starting XI, with three of the team that started their last fixture at home to Wolves no longer at the club.

However, this game could be a tactical showdown between Smith and Villa boss Steve Bruce, and the former Walsall manager should consider using these two players from the bench as impact subs.

 

Sergi Canos

Spaniard Canos returned from injury to make the bench against Wolves before the international break, but failed to make it onto the pitch.

Two more weeks of rest will have prepared Canos for a return, although it should be from the bench.

Bringing the tricky, pacey player on against tired legs will cause nightmares for the Villa back-line, and Canos could prove the difference maker in the closing stages of the tie.

The youngster should become one of the first names on the team-sheet when back to full fitness following the departure of Jota, and this could be the game in which the player really announces his return.

 

Nico Yennaris

The former Arsenal youngster has become something of a utility man at Griffin Park, and the departure of Maxime Colin could potentially see the player fill in at left-back, if Rico Henry continues to be sidelined by injury.

However, if the youngster is fit, Yennaris would be an excellent second half replacement for either Kamahelo Mokotjo or Ryan Woods, who should return to the starting line-up following his absence with personal issues.

Yennaris coming on in the last twenty minutes could help to see the game out for the Bees, or if they are trailing, his driving runs from the middle could certainly contribute to a late leveller.

It will be a tough fixture for the Bees against a strong Aston Villa side, but with the right changes in the second half, Brentford certainly have enough about them to pick up a result in Birmingham.

Bees fans, who would you start in place of Dean, Colin and Jota this weekend?