Andrews on Damsgaard influence | OneFootball

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews has discussed the influence of Mikkel Damsgaard on his side so far this season.

The Danish midfielder was named Supporters' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year last term, and has only missed two Premier League games – Nottingham Forest away for the birth of his first child and Chelsea at home through illness - in 2025/26.

Damsgaard enjoyed his best campaign in a Brentford shirt in 2024/25 behind a front three of Kevin Schade, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.

With the latter two having departed the club this summer, Andrews was asked if it would take time for the 25-year-old to find a similar output with this year’s new-look attack alongside Dango Ouattara and Igor Thiago.

"If you look at last season’s team, that was the culmination of many years’ work with some of those players that were in the team," said the west Londoners' head coach.

"Kev was obviously here last year, Thiago wasn’t available and Dango was a new signing - naturally, it takes a little bit of time to get used to that.

"When you look at Dams, it’s too simplistic to look at goals, assists and final third work."

Andrews added: "We are a slightly different team to previous years and last season in particular. You need to understand what he gives to the team.

"In some of the performances, he’s had to play on the right of a three-man midfield and had to do the vast majority of work without the ball.

"I’d like to think we’re growing as a group all the time and can improve what we do with the ball, and how we can hurt the opposition.

"When it comes to that, I’ve got very few concerns about when we can get Dams into the game and be an attacking force with the ball at his feet. I don’t see many better."