Brentford vs Leicester: Igor Thiago won't start Premier League clash despite injury return | OneFootball

Club-record signing must bide his time and be patient after returning from a serious knee issue

Igor Thiago’s wait for a first Brentford start is set to continue, after Thomas Frank confirmed that he will not be in his XI against Leicester this weekend.

Thiago joined the Bees in the summer for a club-record fee of £30million, following a pre-agreement for his move from Belgian side Club Brugge struck back in February.

On July 20, Thiago suffered a serious knee injury on his Bees debut in a pre-season friendly. Following four months sidelined, he made his competitive debut last time out with an 18-minute cameo in a 0-0 Premier League draw at Everton.

“He’s still looking good,” Frank said of Thiago. “He played 70 minutes with the B team on Tuesday

“That was 70 other valuable minutes to him. He is more ready to potentially start games, but he will not start tomorrow. I don’t think I’m putting any spoiler alert out there.

“First and foremost, we have a very good, in-form striker in Yoane Wissa. He’s done unbelievable. Seven goals. I don’t know how many strikers have scored more goals than him this season in the Premier League.

“We have no more injuries. We are still progressing with the players who are out. Kristoffer [Ajer] and [Gustavo] Nunes will not be ready for this game. [Aaron] Hickey is a long one. Rico [Lewis], when he is ready, I will say ‘tomorrow he will be involved’. [We’ll wait until] everything is perfect.”

Asked whether Brentford have any January transfer plans, Frank said: “I think I have shown during my time that eight different players in our squad can play full-back, so we have enough. But never say never.”

Brentford will face Leicester just days after the Foxes sacked manager Steve Cooper while sat 16th in the Premier League and just a point above the relegation zone.

Frank suggested the Foxes may be galvanised by the change, admitting: “It is terrible timing for us, but we will deal with it.

“I am always sad to hear when a fellow head coach is sacked. I know Steve quite well. We met each other several times over the years in the Premier League and Championship. I think he’s a brilliant coach. Looking from the outside, I don’t understand why [he was sacked].

“Leicester will do everything they can to disrupt us. We need to be on it. I trust my players; I trust my team, and we are confident. We, touch wood, never lacked goals in our four seasons in the Premier League.”

First-team coach Ben Dawson will take temporary charge of Leicester at Brentford on Saturday as the club work to finalise the appointment of former Manchester United interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy as Cooper’s full-time replacement.