Schade in FA Cup squad

“It’s exciting for the fans, and for me,” Frank smiled.

“We’re very pleased. He’s a player we’ve been following very closely for a while.

“We tried to see if something could happen in the last transfer window, but it’s all about timing. We did our homework and we got it over the line.

“He’s a very promising young talent – the perfect Brentford player.

“He’s a player with very big potential. A good character. We like his pace and his ability to go in behind. I like his goalscoring potential.

“He can play across the front three; left, right, striker. He wants to arrive in the right areas.”

Frank revealed that Kristoffer Ajer will return to the squad on Saturday, having recovered from a knee injury.

The defender last appeared for the Bees during the 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers in October.

Aaron Hickey is back in full training, but West Ham’s visit to the Gtech Community Stadium has come ‘just a bit too early for him’.

It’s a similar story for Ivan Toney, who is ‘really, really progressing’ but won’t be risked on Saturday.

Pontus Jansson (hamstring), Shandon Baptiste (groin) and Frank Onyeka (hamstring) are also sidelined.

Frank responded emphatically when asked if Brentford had their sights on a cup run.

“When you play in a cup competition,” he said, “there is only one aim: to try and win it.

“The biggest disappointment this season was losing to Gillingham. That was very tough to take.

“We are not the favourites, but if you don’t believe, and you don’t go for it, you don’t achieve anything.

“We want to play a strong team and we want to see how far we can go.”