Bryan Mbeumo will be out for 12 WEEKS in a huge blow to Brentford with the Cameroon forward set to miss the Africa Cup of Nations as he faces surgery on his ankle today
- Brentford already miss Ivan Toney, whose football ban expires in January
- Bryan Mbeumo scored seven goals and assisted a further four in the competition
- CHRIS SUTTON: I was right to call Man United players 'snakes' last week – IAKO
Bryan Mbeumo's ankle injury will see the forward miss 12 weeks of action in a huge blow to Brentford's Premier League season.
The Cameroonian star has been the star for the Bees in the absence of their talismanic striker Ivan Toney, who continues his football ban after being charged with betting offenses last season.
Mbeumo has managed to score seven goals in fifteen games and add a further four assists to his tally, making him one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League in terms of performance.
Now, however, the Bees will be without their two best strikers as Mbeumo will be out for around three months with an ankle injury suffered in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton earlier this month.
The 24-year-old will undergo ankle surgery on Friday, which will also see him miss the entire Africa Cup of Nations, which starts next month.
Bryan Mbeumo faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines as he undergoes ankle surgery today
The Cameroonian forward suffered the injury earlier in December during a 2-1 defeat to Brighton
It is a bitter blow for Thomas Frank's team, who are already without star striker Ivan Toney
Brentford boss Thomas Frank revealed the extent of the injury and insisted that while the initial prognosis was not great for the squad, the player would return 'stronger'.
“Ankle surgery today,” Frank said on Friday. 'Twelve weeks away. That will therefore influence his Africa Cup of Nations. He will not participate.
'Let's go over the operation first. Bryan is a positive guy. Anyone who suffers a setback is always difficult to deal with, but he will come back stronger.
“Very, very good mentality, so I am convinced he will come back stronger.”
Brentford have so far managed to compensate for Toney's absence, with only minor impact on their league performance.
Despite losing arguably England's second-best No. 9 behind Harry Kane, Brentford are currently just two places behind where they finished last season and are not at risk of relegation.
However, Frank hinted that this latest blow could force his side's hand when it comes to the January transfer window, with regards to strengthening their forward options.
“Of course the long term (injuries) are annoying,” he added.
Toney can return to action in January after his eight-month football ban ends
'We have had to deal with injuries throughout the season from the first match, but we have managed well.
'Of course we have to look at it in January. We never rush things, we try to be smart and make calm, sensible decisions and we will do the same in January.
“So we won't take on a player if we don't think it's for the longer term, but maybe a loan this time, depending on how things go over the next three or four weeks.”
Toney's return in January once his eight-month ban expires will be a welcome boost for the injury-hit Bees, who are currently missing a whopping nine first-team stars.
Mathias Jensen (right) is currently one of seven other players who are unavailable alongside Toney and Mbeumo