“It was good for me to get back out there (against Celta Vigo) and get some minutes under my belt. We had some good games at Griffin Park last season and we’re hoping to kick on again this year.

“I’ve been out with injury for the last week or two but I’m fit again now and feel good. We’ve got strength in depth in this group and we’ve looked good in pre-season so I definitely think we can go a lot further than we did last year”.

The Bees have added five new faces this summer – including central midfielder Kamo Mokotjo from FC Twente – and Nico believes that competition for first-team berths could prove vital over the months ahead.

“Competition for places is always a good thing; everyone has to be working hard week in, week out which helps keep standards high. At the end of the day we all want the same thing and that’s promotion”.

With Nico’s fifth term in Brentford colours less than a week away, the 24-year-old acknowledged that he has more of leadership role to play amongst the current crop: “It’s quite weird being one of the senior figures at 24 but it’s good; I’ve always helped the new boys – and the young players that have stepped up into the First Team – so it’s good to be able to take some responsibility within the squad”.