After posting yet another home win at the weekend, Brentford will travel to Birmingham on Wednesday evening, when they hope to benefit from Aston Villa's recent downturn.

The Bees comfortably beat Leicester City, securing their place in the Premier League's top half, after head coach Thomas Frank decided to hand Kevin Schade his first top-flight start since October.

That choice was vindicated by the German forward netting a hat-trick and laying on an assist, so Schade should keep his place in Frank's starting XI, joining established stars Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo up front.

The latter pair have scored seven and eight times respectively this season, while back-up is now provided by summer signing Igor Thiago, who is nearing a return to peak fitness and should again feature on the Bees' bench.

Meanwhile, Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry (both knee) and Aaron Hickey (thigh) are all sidelined by injury; Kristoffer Ajer (foot) and Gustavo Nunes (back) are closing in on their respective returns.

Danish midfielder Mathias Jensen succumbed to a hamstring injury on Saturday, and having already missed five league games this term with a calf problem, he is now ruled out again.

Vitaly Janelt could therefore be promoted to the starting lineup at Villa Park, but Yehor Yarmolyuk is another option to join captain Christian Norgaard in the visitors' engine room.

Brentford possible starting lineup: Flekken; Van den Berg, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Norgaard; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa

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