Brentford goalkeeper Patrik Gunnarsson has returned from a successful loan spell in Norway. Patrik, 21, spent four months on loan with Viking Fotballklubb, commonly known as Viking Stavanger, in the Norwegian Eliteserien. That loan expires today, Friday 31 December, and Patrik is back training with The Bees.

Patrik started seven games for Viking over the course of his loan. He missed some through injury and suspension but helped Viking climb from sixth in the Norwegian top flight when he arrived. Viking finished the 2021 season in third and qualified for European football in the 2022/23 season.

Viking won four and drew two of the matches Patrik started, their only defeat coming to champions Bodø/Glimt. He also helped them reach the last 16 of the Norwegian Football Cup. That tournament will conclude in the new year.

It is a third successful loan for Patrik after two in the NordicBet Liga in Denmark. In two spells, first with Viborg FF and then Silkeborg IF, Patrik kept 14 clean sheets in 26 unbeaten games as his two clubs filled both promotion spots from the Danish Second Tier. He has also made one appearance for Brentford, as a substitute in a Sky Bet Championship win at Middlesbrough in March 2019, and played three times for Southend United in 2020 on loan in League One.

Patrik joined Brentford B in the summer of 2018, aged 17. He signed a new long-term deal in West London in June 2019 and was officially promoted to the First Team squad three months later. Patrik was named on the bench for our season opening Premier League win over Arsenal in August and will be available for The Bees again once international clearance has been received.