This is the sort of update that trims away a little of the mystery and leaves Brentford with fewer moving parts than they would like. Ahead of Saturday afternoon’s 3pm BST Premier League trip to Aston Villa, Keith Andrews has confirmed that Antoni Milambo and Josh Dasilva will not be involved at Villa Park.
It is not a disaster, but it is not nothing either. Brentford are heading into a difficult away fixture against Unai Emery’s side, and every unavailable body matters when the margins are this tight. Andrews was at least able to strike a more upbeat note on the wider fitness picture, saying several players have been back on the grass and in and around training.
Brentford lose two, but the picture is not all bad
Andrews was clear enough on the immediate issue. Milambo and Josh Dasilva are out, full stop. The Brentford head coach said Milambo had been doing well before picking up a small knock that has set him back, which is exactly the kind of frustration clubs hate at this stage of a recovery. Progress is supposed to be linear. In reality, it so often is not.
That is especially true when a player is working back from a longer layoff. Andrews pointed out that these returns are rarely straightforward, and Milambo’s latest setback is a reminder that the final stretch of rehabilitation can be awkward and unpredictable. Brentford will now have to manage that process a little more carefully rather than rushing anything for the sake of one match.
There is, though, a more encouraging thread running through the rest of the squad. Andrews said the last few weeks have allowed Nathan Collins, Sepp van den Berg and Mathias Jensen to get back up to speed and move closer to a return. Dango Ouattara and Sepp have also been in and around training, which at least gives Brentford some hope that the injury list is beginning to ease rather than expand.
That matters because the Bees are not travelling to Villa Park for a comfortable afternoon. Andrews was full of respect for Unai Emery, calling him an exceptional coach and praising Aston Villa’s work, which he said was clearly starting to come to fruition. He also made no attempt to dress up the challenge. This is a very difficult game. Brentford know it. But Andrews insisted it is also one they are looking forward to playing.
And there is a reason for that measured optimism. Brentford have come through the international break well, in Andrews’ words, and he believes they are in a good place for the next chapter. That does not change the fact that Milambo and Josh Dasilva will miss out, but it does soften the blow. The squad is not at full strength, yet the direction of travel is at least healthier than it has been.
For Brentford, the task now is simple enough to state and difficult enough to execute: survive the absences, lean on the players who are getting closer, and make sure the trip to Aston Villa is shaped by their own fight rather than by the names they are missing.
