Wissa not fully up to speed yet, says Frank

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Brentford boss Thomas Frank admits Yoane Wissa is still not fully up to speed despite making his first start of the season against Watford last Friday.

The Congolese winger has scored two goals this season after coming off the bench, including the winner in the Bees’ 2-1 success at West Ham in early October, only to injure his ankle during his eight-minute cameo at the London Stadium that put him on the sidelines for over a month.

The absence of Ivan Toney against the Hornets saw Wissa named up front alongside Bryan Mbeumo but he was withdrawn after 70 minutes after failing to make an impression on the games.


Toney was not expected to start following his isolation from Covid for the Manchester United match on Tuesday, but with that game now postponed Wissa may find himself back on the bench for Saturday’s trip to Southampton.

Frank said the 25-year-old, signed from L’Orient in the summer, has the game to suit the Premier League and backed him to come good, but said he still has to find the consistency to become a regular starter.

“I think to be completely honest he has lacked a bit of that sharpness since coming back from injury and showed that against Watford,” Frank said.

“It wasn’t only the goal he provided in that game against West Ham that were impressive, but his actions on the turn going past people.

“During training leading up to these recent games he was banging in goals.

“So he’s getting closer, but he needs the minutes and that is just a matter of training hard and getting more game time, but it will definitely come.”