Brentfords Bryan Mbeumo out for 12 weeks; set to miss AFCON due to ankle injury

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo will be out for 12 weeks with an ankle injury and will miss the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast with Cameroon.

Mbeumo sustained the injury during Brentford’s 2-1 loss against Brighton & Hove Albion last week, with head coach Thomas Frank later confirming that he expected the 24-year-old to be out for “weeks” with what he thought was ligament damage.

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“Operation today in the ankle,” Frank said on Friday. “Out for 12 weeks. So that will affect his Africa Cup of Nations. He will not participate.

“Let’s get through the operation first. Bryan is a positive guy. Everyone that gets a set back it’s always tough to take, but he will come back stronger. Very, very good mindset so I’m convinced he will come back stronger.”

Mbeumo had been in remarkable form for Brentford before his injury. He had started all of their league games, scoring seven goals and providing four assists in 15  appearances.

The forward was born in France and came through the ranks at Troyes, before joining Brentford in 2019. Having played for France at youth level, Mbeumo qualified to play for Cameroon through his family and made his debut last year.

Mbeumo has been a regular in Cameroon squads since and has made 14 appearances for the African side, scoring three goals including the crucial first in September’s 3-0 win over Burundi which qualified his nation for this season’s AFCON.

Cameroon were drawn against Senegal, Guinea and The Gambia. Rigobert Song’s side will face Guinea in their first match in Yamoussoukro on January 15.

The tournament was originally meant to be held this summer but was pushed back due to weather concerns. It begins on January 13 and ends with the final on February 11.

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Mbeumo injury may force Brentford’s hand

Asked if Mbeumo’s injury may see Brentford be active in the January transfer window, Frank said: “Of course the long term (injuries) are irritating.

“Throughout the season from game one we have struggled with injuries but we have managed it well.

“Of course we need to look into it January. We are never rushing into things, we try to be clever and take calm, sensible decisions and we will do the same in January.

“So we will not take a player if we don’t think it’s for the longer term but maybe this time maybe a loan it depends how things go in the next three, four weeks.”

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There was more bad injury news for Brentford, too, with Frank revealing difficulties with Mathias Jensen’s recovery from an adductor injury.

“I try to be honest and tell you how it is,” Frank added. “Some injuries are a little bit more tricky. It’s tendon related. That’s why it doesn’t heal as good as we think.

“(Jensen) will be out for Sunday. He could be available for Wolves (December 27) but it could also be that he is not ready before Nottingham Forest (on January 20).
(Josh Dasilva) hopefully FA Cup (v Wolves on January 6).

Frank did, though, confirm that defender Nathan Collins was back training after a few weeks out and could be available to face Aston Villa this Sunday.

A big miss for Brentford

Mbeumo’s injury will have huge consequences for Brentford’s season. While Ivan Toney has served an eight-month suspension for breaking the FA’s rules around betting, Mbeumo has stepped up to become their main attacking threat. Before his injury, he had been directly involved in 10 goals this season — 43.5 per cent of Brentford’s overall total (23).

At that state, only Erling Haaland of Manchester City, Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan (both 50), Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (47.1) and Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke (44.4) have better records, according to Opta.

There will be pressure on Yoane Wissa to step up but he has only scored once in his last 13 appearances while Keane Lewis-Potter is still looking for his first goal in the top flight. With Kevin Schade out long-term too with an adductor injury, Brentford have a lack of speed and direct dribbling upfront so will need to tweak their style.

The only small positive piece of news is that Frank’s side only have three more league games, two against teams below them, before Toney is able to return from his ban.

(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

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