Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard has outlined his aims for the upcoming campaign.
Mikkel Damsgaard endured a frustrating first season with Brentford last time out. Having joined the Bees in a deal worth £16.7 million last summer, Thomas Frank may well have expected more from the Danish attacking midfielder.
Across his 26 Premier League appearances, Damsgaard showed flashes of quality, but was unable to produce a single goal or assist, as fitness issues also hampered his progress. However, the 23-year-old is bullish about his ability to have a much bigger impact at the Gtech Community Stadium this time around.
As quoted by BBC Sport, Damsgaard said, “it was a tough period, but I got over it…Physically I didn’t feel good…So, of course it was very frustrating for a while, but I think I developed a lot that year. I’ve got so much better now…My hope for the season is to show I have improved a lot and create a lot more chances, score some goals and assists – really be an asset for the team. That’s my goal.”
Brentford need Damsgaard to step up more than ever this season. Ivan Toney’s ban has heaped pressure on the club’s attackers to make up for the striker’s absence. It’s a huge blow for Frank. Damsgaard also touched on this subject, saying, “In Ivan we had a very solid player…he’s an amazing player. Of course it’s going to hurt us for him to be out.”
Brentford need attackers to step up
If he can get back to the form he showed for Sampdoria, prior to his switch to the Premier League, Damsgaard can play a big role in helping the club cope without Toney. The 25-cap Denmark international was a creative force for the Serie A outfit.
Damsgaard isn’t the only one that Frank will be looking to to kick on in Toney’s wake. Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo will have to be absolutely clinical in front of goal. Kevin Schade will also need to start living up to the club record £22 million fee that the Bees shelled out for him this summer. Keane Lewis-Potter is another who will get the chance to make himself a hero for Brentford.
If Brentford are going to improve on the 9th-place finish they recorded last time out, then the likes of Damsgaard must hit the ground running this season.