Jota will not be sold in January, insists Bees boss

Brentford have no intention of selling midfielder Jota in the January transfer window, head coach Dean Smith has insisted.

The Spaniard was not selected in the Bees squad for their 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City on Saturday, with Andy Gogia coming on as a substitute instead.

City winger Demarai Gray was also left out while he negotiates a potential move to Leicester City, but Smith said Jota’s absence was due to injury.

He said: “He pulled up with a calf strain yesterday in training so unfortunately he couldn’t travel.

“It would have been nice to have had Jota on the bench to be able to throw on but I was quite pleased with Andy Gogia when he came on. He looked very bright.

“We’re not looking to sell anybody in the window. We’re just looking forward to the next few games.”