Having joined Brentford B from Aston Villa, Kyrie Pierre’s start to life in red and white did not go as the young playmaker would have dreamt.

Shortly after joining in the summer of 2025, he picked up a pre-season injury at the inception of his Brentford career.

Despite the early setback, the 20-year-old midfielder has turned a difficult start into a flourishing first half of the 2025/26 season.

“It was tough being hit with an injury early on, but the medical team helped me a lot,” he explained.

“I’ve come back strong and I've hit the ground running to start off with on the pitch.

“Obviously I had to adjust when I got that injury, but I’ve been doing well in the Premier League Cup and, as a team, we’re hitting form in the league.

“It's the people you have around you on a day-to-day basis. The lads, the environment, and the staff have all been easy to talk to.

“I’ve enjoyed my time off the pitch here a lot so, when I finally got onto the pitch, it was easier for me.”

Before joining the Bees, Pierre played for Aston Villa for more than four years, where he signed his first professional contract in 2022.

“I really enjoyed my time there. When I look back at it, I don’t regret anything," he explained. “At Villa, there's a lot of big names and they have big success in the youth setup.

“There are a few lads who I played with who are in and amongst the first team now.

“Lamare Bogarde, Jamal Jimoh-Aloba, Kane Taylor. Those were players you looked at and thought, ‘How can I learn from them?’”

Pierre scored his first goal for Brentford B, coming off the bench in a crucial Premier League Cup victory over Exeter City.

“As soon as [Sam] Saunders called me up to come on, I just felt that excitement,” he remembered.

“I knew I was going to show what I can do because, really and truly, there was no pressure.

“In my head, after the injury, I was thinking, 'There's no going down from here’, so the only thing I could do was perform.

“Coming out with a goal, I did myself a massive favour.”

The young Bees finished second in their Premier League Cup group after a slow start and dealt with the pressure of having to win their final two games in excellent fashion.

“The boys here are top. As a team, those tough moments made us gel together so much,” he explained.

“Everyone fits and everyone's included. We may not all like the same things, but we still find a way for each other.

“That translates massively on the pitch; we all play for each other as well."

Saunders' side play their first game of the calendar year on Friday 16 January as they head to QPR in a west London derby.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time being coached by Sam," beamed Pierre.

“I’ve picked up a few things from his coaching points that I can implement into my game. He’s helped me to have confidence in myself, to go and be a free player.

“I'd probably say at Villa it was more structured, whereas here the message is more to go and express yourself.

“As an attacking player, that’s what I want, it really suits me.

“Every week, every game, I'm getting stronger, in myself, physically and mentally.

“In 2026, it's just about hitting the ground running again. There’s no ceiling on what we can achieve.”