Scott Hogan believes he is in the best shape ever as he gears up for the final month of the season at Griffin Park. The 23-year-old striker made his Brentford first-team return last Saturday as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers and then followed that up with his first full 90 minutes for the Development Squad two days later. With Brentford now just six points above the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone Scott said he is fully confident in his fitness and ability to come back to help out the team.
Speaking to Bees Player earlier this week Scott said: “I feel fine after 90 minutes with the Development Squad. It was a bit different intensity and tempo than what I would like with the first team. It was 90 minutes that I didn’t have for a long time so that was good. Physically I’ve felt capable of doing 90 minutes for a long-time. I have kept myself in really good shape, better shape than I have even been in before to be honest, and that is thanks to medical and strength and conditioning departments.
“I have been out for a long time so it will take a couple of games for my match sharpness to come back. I am confident that I am sharp enough to play in the first-team and score goals. I am only going to get better. I feel that I am good enough and sharp enough now to have an impact and score goals for the first-team. It is only going to get better from here on in but at this moment I am confident of making an impact.”
Scott’s introduction as a 76th minute substitute on Saturday at Griffin Park was greeted by a standing ovation for the striker who last played for the first team in August 2014. The former Rochdale man admitted that it was a shame he couldn’t soak up the reception that he received but thanked the fans for their support.
“Everyone stood up and clapped and I wish that I could go back and experience it again,” said Scott. “I didn’t really notice it because in my head I was thinking about being back after all that time. I didn’t register it but I did see a lot of people stood up on the far side. People who were there said it was such a good reception and I am gutted that I couldn’t sit there and enjoy it. I can only thank everyone for that and it is just a nice feeling to know that people want you to do well and that they are happy to see you back. I haven’t thought for one second about what has happened because I want to play football, score goals and win games.”
Brentford have nine league matches remaining this season, starting with a trip to The City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest after the international break on Saturday 2nd April. After such a long spell out Scott is really looking forward to the intense run of matches that is coming up and feels that every one of them is one that The Bees can get three points from.
“The international break has come at a good time for us but it hasn’t come at a good time for me personally because now I am back I just want to keep playing,” said Scott. “We have got a couple of days off and there are a few lads who need that. Nottingham Forest is the next game and everything we do between now and then is engineered to beating Forest. We are not going there to think that a draw is good. We are going there to win. Personally I want to play every minute of every game that is upcoming. There are a lot of games in a short period of time but at the end of the day we are playing football. There are some nice games in there and every single game is winnable.”