Brentford head coach Keith Andrews has shared insights on the fitness of key players Kaye Furo, Jordan Henderson, and Dango Ouattara as the Bees prepare for their Premier League clash against Chelsea this Saturday at Stamford Bridge, set for a 3pm GMT kick-off.
The Bees come into this match on a positive note, having lost only one of their last eight encounters with Chelsea, who currently sit three places and two points behind Brentford in the league standings.
In recent developments, Jordan Henderson had to be substituted during Brentford’s FA Cup third-round match against Sheffield Wednesday, where the Bees celebrated a victory last weekend. Andrews reported that Henderson sustained a minor ankle injury after a contact incident. However, the coach reassured fans that Henderson has made significant progress and is back on the training pitch, with a decision on his availability for the Chelsea match expected to be made soon.
Dango Ouattara has returned after Burkina Faso’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations, where they were defeated 3-0 by the titleholders, Ivory Coast, in the round of 16. Andrews expressed satisfaction at Ouattara’s return from the tournament, noting that while he could have possibly played against Sheffield Wednesday, the decision was made to give him extra recovery time. He has been training well and is ready to contribute.
Regarding Furo, who recently joined Brentford from Club Brugge, Andrews highlighted the young striker’s potential and work ethic. He described Furo as a “proper no.9” and emphasized the importance of bringing in players with ambition. Furo has quickly adapted to the team dynamics and has established a rapport with fellow player Igor Thiago, which bodes well for his integration. Andrews is optimistic about developing Furo’s skills further as he becomes fully acclimated to the demands of the Premier League.
Unfortunately, the team will still be without Josh Dasilva, who is recovering from a knee ligament issue, and both Fábio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo will be absent for the remainder of the season due to ACL injuries.
With a strong squad and a positive mindset, Brentford is poised to face Chelsea, and fans are eager to see how the team continues to perform in the league.