Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo has undergone surgery on an ankle problem that will keep him out for up to three months.
Cameroon international Mbeumo will also miss the African Cup of Nations after sustaining the injury at Brighton earlier this month.
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It is a blow for club – the 24-year-old is Brentford’s leading scorer in the league with seven – and player, although coach Thomas Frank is optimistic Mbeumo will show no adverse effects on his return in the new year.
Frank said: “He had an operation today on the ankle, out for 12 weeks. Bryan is a positive guy, he will come back stronger.
Mbeumo is another addition to Brentford’s lengthy injury list that includes Kristoffer Ajer, Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Mathias Jensen and Kevin Schade.
Frank, speaking ahead of Sunday’s home game with high-flying Aston Villa, believes it gives others the chance to impress.
He added: “It’s my job to find a solution and put the best competitive team out there against Villa and it’s the players’ responsibility to step up and take their chance.
“There are some players out who think I’ve taken bad decisions in the past but now it’s their chance to shine.”
Frank admitted Brentford may have to look to strengthen in the January window but said their much-admired recruitment processes would not be compromised by a need to get bodies in.
“We need to look at it in January, but we never rush into things,” he said. We try to be clever and take calm and sensible decisions.
“We will not take a player if we don’t think it’s for the longer term. Maybe this time a loan, but it depends on how things go over the next three or four weeks.”
