Brentford head coach Keith Andrews has provided an update on the fitness of Kevin Schade and Jannik Schuster after both players were forced off during their recent outing against Aston Villa, with the timing proving particularly unwelcome given Liverpool's imminent visit to west London on Saturday.
Schade's afternoon ended early in the second half after he appeared to fall awkwardly before the interval, prompting concern among the Brentford coaching staff. Andrews revealed that the forward will undergo further assessment at the club's Osterley training base to determine the extent of the problem.
"He probably wasn't right at half-time, he wanted to give it a go," Andrews said after the match. "He's picked up a shoulder injury so we'll see how he is in the next few days."
Schade was not the only player to be withdrawn at the break, with summer signing Schuster also making way, replaced by Aaron Hickey. Andrews explained that the Austrian had carried an ankle issue into the fixture, having picked up the knock during training in the build-up to the game.
"Jannik picked up a knock during the week," Andrews added. "He didn't quite look amazing in training yesterday, how he was moving. It felt similar today in the warm-up. There was just a little incident with his ankle, so I thought it was the right decision just to take him out of the firing line."
Despite starting with the knock, Schuster lasted the opening 45 minutes before Andrews opted not to risk him further.
Reflecting on the broader context of the performance, Andrews suggested that the double injury blow may have cost Brentford a better result against a Villa side he felt was beginning to find its rhythm after the recent international break. The Bees boss pointed to signs of rustiness in his squad, a consequence of players being away on international duty for roughly three weeks, though he was reluctant to lean too heavily on that explanation.
"I liked a lot today - spirit, grit, determination," he said. "There was evidence of rustiness which is understandable but I don't like to use that as an excuse but the boys have been away for three weeks so it's trying to find the balance."
He continued: "Then we had Kevin's injury, Jannik wasn't right and came off at half time, so we got tested today. But we're also up against a team who I thought were just starting to click before the international break. But the fact that we're disappointed coming away from home to a Champions League team who spend big money tells you a lot."
Those comments hint at the growing expectations within the Brentford camp, with Andrews suggesting that disappointment at the result against a well-resourced Champions League club reflects positively on the standards now being set at the club.
Attention now turns quickly to preparations for Liverpool's visit, with the fitness staff racing against time to assess both Schade and Schuster before Saturday's fixture. Should either player be ruled out, Andrews will need to consider alternative options as Brentford look to build on the defiant display shown against Villa.
Further updates on the pair's availability are expected in the coming days as Brentford's medical team completes its evaluations ahead of what promises to be a stern test against one of the Premier League's traditional heavyweights.
Based on reporting from standard-football.