Benjamin Fredrick

Fredrick defends with a physical directness that wins him plenty of individual duels, comfortable playing at centre back in a settled back line or shifting out to right back when his team needs extra pace on that side. He came through a Nigerian academy pathway specifically designed to prepare players for European football, which shows in how quickly he adjusted once he actually arrived in England.

Regular senior football away from Brentford has become an important part of sharpening his game further, testing him against professional opposition on a weekly basis rather than leaving him waiting for occasional first team chances. He has already represented his country at senior level, a marker of real promise for a defender still building his club career. Whether he returns ready to compete regularly in the Premier League is the question that will define his next few years.