It has been a rough old time for Brentford’s Keane Lewis-Potter since his arrival from Hull City last summer.
The 22-year-old managed just 13 appearances in his debut season for the Bees having suffered from multiple fitness and injury struggles from the get-go.
He featured in five of the first six Premier League fixtures last season before sustaining a ligament injury that made him miss the following six matches.
On his return from injury, he failed to make it off the bench in six of the next 11 top flight encounters before picking up a knee injury that kept him out of action for the remainder of the season from March onwards.
Brentford faced Boreham Wood in their seemingly annual pre-season clash yesterday evening as Lewis-Potter finally made his return to action in a 1-1 draw.
The winger formed part of the Bees’ first-half starting XI and was twice denied a goal by the Wood’s captain Nathan Ashmore in net.
Speaking after the fixture, Lewis-Potter revealed his delight at returning to the playing field.
“It was great to be back out there,” said the youngster.
“Especially after a tough four and a half months, nearly five months out.
“I have been buzzing to get back out there again.
“It was a tough time being in the physio room for all of them months and over summer alone as well, so it was just great to be back.”
It could be a big season for Lewis-Potter
Brentford paid Hull a hefty £20m fee for the former Championship starlet last year due to his impressive form in the second tier.
He featured 122 times for the Tigers in total, scoring 30 goals and registering 11 assists during that period. It is no surprise that his former club tried to lure him back to the MKM Stadium on loan in January, though that move never formulated.
A fully fit Lewis-Potter could be like a new signing for the Bees this season. We are yet to see him at his best for Brentford, so it will be interesting to see how Thomas Frank attempts to weave him back into the fold.
There is certainly a player in there somewhere.