Josh Clarke has been promoted to Brentford’s First Team Squad.

The 19-year-old has had a meteoric rise since joining The Bees in 2011.

Prior to signing a two-year scholarship at the age of 17 he was effectively playing park football.

He completed his scholarship last summer and signed a professional contract, as part of the Development Squad.

He made his First Team debut in the Capital One Cup defeat to Derby County last August and also featured in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie against Peterborough United in October.

He has been an unused substitute on two more occasions.

Josh, who will be 20 in in July, played 17 games for Brentford’s Development Squad in the Under-21 Professional Development League last term, scoring once.

He has been involved in 16 games for The Bees in the Under-21 Professional Development League this season and had loan spells at Skrill South Maidenhead United and Skrill Premier Braintree to add to a spell at Carshalton Athletic last season.

Mark Warburton, Brentford FC Manager, said: “We have looked at how Josh has done over a period of time, how he has done in training, how he has taken on the lessons.

“It is not a decision that is taken quickly.

“The key thing for Josh is his end product, he has raw, blistering pace.

“He has to use it in combination with pitch geography and produce an end product, a cross or a shot.

“He has done really well and has moved up.

“It’s a big step and the work starts now.

“He has to justify his place in the dressing room, his fellow professionals will demand it from him, he has to be the best he can be every single day.

“If he does that, he has a chance.

“He came in raw from the park, no Academy education and had to catch up and understand the game.

“He is a defender’s nightmare and is now utilising his pace.

“Josh has earned his move and it should not be underestimated as to how big a move it is.”