With a victory over Sheffield United at Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Brentford ended a nine-match winless run of form in the Premier League and eased themselves away from the bottom three and the relegation places.

That basic fact is a major positive for Thomas Frank’s Bees, but two players returning from injury underpinned the victory and has given renewed hope for a fine end to the season.

The first man to touch upon has to be Germany international forward Kevin Schade. The 22-year-old arrived on loan from Freiburg in January 2023 before his move became permanent in the summer. He showed glimpses of genuine quality before a long-term injury absence, but the forward returned to the first-team squad against the Blades.

Coming off the bench just before the end of the regular 90, Schade produced an assist after just a few minutes back on the pitch. The Bees’ no.9 received a throw-in from the left with an awkward bounce just in front but, with the outside of his left boot, he creatively and deftly nicked the ball around a couple of United defenders for Frank Onyeka to seal all three points for Brentford.

Only five first-team players have had fewer minutes than Schade this season with two of those currently out on loan and one being goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha. Despite that, he has still had two direct goal involvements and there will be a belief that a strong, fully fit end to the campaign will set him up nicely to really kick on next season.

Another man returning from an injury lay-off at the weekend was Jamaican international centre-back Ethan Pinnock. The former Barnsley man has been instrumental to Brentford’s success in recent seasons and was arguably enjoying his best personal campaign before his absence.

He replaced Yoane Wissa at the same time as Schade’s introduction at the weekend and there will be an expectation that he slots straight back into the Brentford backline.

Only midfielder Christian Nørgaard has managed more interceptions per 90 minutes than Pinnock this season for the Bees. He has only been dribbled past 0.4 times and at 0.9 per game, he has performed the most blocks of any Brentford player on average throughout the campaign.

In terms of his on the ball work, too, injured full-back duo Aaron Hickey and Rico Henry, who have only managed 1,122 minutes between them this season, are the only players with a higher pass percentage rate with Pinnock averaging the most passes per game of any Brentford player.

Quite simply, the 30-year-old left footer has been dominant at the back, but also essential in how Brentford want to play in possession. His return could be crucial as we head into the run-in.