Brentford v Walsall preview

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Jake Bidwell is a major doubt for Brentford ahead of the visit of Walsall.

Defender Bidwell was forced off just 15 minutes into last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Gillingham with an ankle injury.

Javi Venta came on at right-back – with Shaleum Logan moving across to Bidwell’s left-back position – and the Spaniard could now make his full league debut.

Elsewhere midfielder Jonathan Douglas is still recovering from a summer knee op and goalkeeper Richard Lee remains sidelined following shoulder surgery.

Milan Lalkovic and Andy Taylor are both back in contention for Walsall’s trip to Brentford.

On-loan Chelsea striker Lalkovic missed last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Notts County due to a minor hamstring problem sustained on international duty, however boss Dean Smith faces a dilemma after Romaine Sawyers came in and found the net against the Magpies.

Defender Andy Taylor is yet to feature this season due to an ankle injury but returned to action in midweek to play 45 minutes for the club’s reserves.

Walsall, who remain unbeaten this term despite losing their 100 per cent record last weekend, will come up against former striker Will Grigg for the first time since his summer switch to Griffin Park.

Brentford v Walsall preview

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Brentford could hand debuts to new loan signings Liam Moore and Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Defender Moore has joined from Leicester and striker Wright-Phillips from Charlton on deals until the end of the season to boost the Bees’ promotion bid.

Midfielder Jake Reeves should be fit despite the nasty head injury he suffered against Chelsea last weekend.

The teenager had to go off after taking the full force of David Luiz’s shoulder in his face as the Bees’ FA Cup run came to an end, but manager Uwe Rosler expects him to be available.

Midfielder Kevin O’Connor is still sidelined by an ankle injury and striker Farid El Alagui is the other long-term absentee with a knee problem.

Goalkeeper Aaron McCarey comes into contention for Walsall.

The 21-year-old on Thursday re-signed for the Saddlers on loan from Wolves until the end of the season, coming after he enjoyed eight games for the club over November and December.

McCarey has been brought in after manager Dean Smith failed to extend the loan stay of Ian McLoughlin, who was between the posts for last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Notts County. He will now challenge David Grof for the gloves.

Defender Ben Purkiss is hopeful of being fit after a hamstring strain ruled him out last weekend.

Richard Taundry continues to miss out with his ankle problem as Walsall aim to close the eight-point gap between themselves and the play-offs.

Brentford v Walsall preview

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Karleigh Osborne and Kevin O’Connor remain Brentford’s only absentees.

Centre-half Osborne has been sidelined since injuring his foot against Stevenage back in October, but he was hoping to be back in action over the festive period.

However, his comeback stalled when he picked up a dead leg in training and aggravated it playing for the reserves.

Osborne hopes to be back in training next week and possibly in first-team contention by the end of the month.

Club captain O’Connor has set his sights on a February return after suffering a foot injury against Basingstoke in the FA Cup two months ago.

The Bees are hoping to complete the signing of Leicester midfielder Jack Warburton before the weekend.

Walsall are boosted by the return of Olly Lancashire.

The central defender has missed the last five games since sustaining a hamstring injury in the club’s FA Cup exit to Dagenham & Redbridge in mid-December.

Midfielder Kevan Hurst is touch and go having sustained a recurrence of his recent heel injury which has forced him out of training this week.

Otherwise, manager Dean Smith has a fully-fit squad to select from. Centre-back Manny Smith returned from suspension to start last weekend’s disappointing last-gasp 2-2 draw against Bournemouth.

Goalkeeper Jimmy Walker will break Walsall’s all-time appearance record should be feature as expected, with the goalkeeper having made his 529th senior outing for the Saddlers against the Cherries, equalling Colin Harrison’s record which has stood since 1981.