Tom Field knows that all he can do is keep working hard as he looks to force his way into Brentford Head Coach Dean Smith’s plans for the Sky Bet Championship opener against Huddersfield Town next month. With Jake Bidwell joining Queens Park Rangers earlier in this summer transfer window, the 19-year-old has been given an extended run in The Bees line-up this pre-season and he is determined to make the left-back position his own.

“I like attacking as much as I like defending but I think my preferred position is left-back because my defensive game has come on a lot,” said Tom, speaking to Bees Player after a 1-1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night. “My aim is to be in that starting XI for the Huddersfield Town game. I have to keep working hard, playing well, and getting 90 minutes in and then it is in the coach’s hands.”

Tom was included on The Bees pre-season Training Camp to Germany last week which saw the squad spend a week at the renowned WM Sporthotel outside Dortmund. The defender said the trip, and especially the match against local side VFL Bochum, was a real eye-opener for him and one that he could take a lot from moving forward.

“Germany was my first proper pre-season tour and it showed how much responsibility you get,” said Tom. “There were no mishaps, we conducted ourselves well in the hotel, and we played a tough game against VFL Bochum. It was a good experience to play a continental side because English teams just don’t play like that with the rotation, movement up top, and keeping the ball. I am taking every bit of this pre-season on board and it is making me a better player. I need to keep learning and getting better.”

The 19-year-old played 90 minutes last night in The Bees’ friendly with the Sky Bet League Two Chairboys. John Egan’s first Brentford goal was cancelled out with ten minutes to play by Dayle Southwell as both sides had to settle for a draw. Temperatures touched 35 degrees in the build-up to the game and Tom admitted that it was a hard workout against a well-organised opponent.

“It was tough,” said Tom. “Wycombe pressed us well, went man to man and made it hard for us to pass out. They stopped our out ball to Philipp Hofmann and they stopped us playing. I would receive the ball and the full-back would be right behind me. It was hard to play and I think that is why they did well. In the second-half I was told to push on because they were going man to man. I showed short and received in behind. That worked well because I got crosses in and started driving at the full-back more.