Thomas Frank tells Brentford supporters to prepare to 'suffer' in rallying Man City call

Brentford manager Thomas Frank has sent a rallying message of determination to Bees supporters ahead of tonight's meeting with Manchester City at the Gtech Community Stadium.

It's been a torrid time of late for the London outfit, who have won just one of their last nine outings in all competitions, but the team is buoyed by the recent return of a resurgent Ivan Toney. The England international has two goals in two but Brentford will need their star man in form and a lot more to overcome the Champions on Monday night.

Manchester City haven't lost a game since the start of December and Guardiola could return talisman Erling Haaland to the starting XI as the player works his way back from a recent injury. Brentford did beat the Cityzens twice last season and another giant killing tonight would see the club leapfrog Crystal Palace in the Premier League table, to 14th place.

Writing in his programme notes ahead of kick-off, Frank said: "In the modern era, Pep Guardiola is the best most innovative head coach - he has developed the game massively.

"At times tonight, we will have to suffer - City keep the ball unbelievably well and then look to create breakthroughs - and I genuinely believe that the lift you can give the players in these moments can be the difference for us. Please give us everything you have this evening and I promise you that me, the players and the staff will do the same."

Brentford will be without Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Kevin Schade and Bryan Mbeumo once again this evening with the four stars still sidelined through injury. Yoane Wissa and Frank Onyeka remain on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations but Frank will have full-back Sergio Reguilon available after he missed out midweek due to being ineligible to face his parent club.

Brentford vs Manchester City - confirmed starting XIs

Brentford XI - Mark Flekken, Mads Roerslev, Nathan Collins, Ethan Pinnock, Ben Mee, Sergio Reguilon, Christian Norgaard, Vitaly Janelt, Mathias Jensen, Neal Maupay, Ivan Toney.

Subs - Thomas Stakosha, Zanka, Kristoffer Ajer, Kane Lewis-Potter, Mikkel Damsgaard, Shandon Baptiste, Yehor Yarmolyuk, Ethan Brierley, Benjamin Fredrick

Man City XI - Ederson, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Julian Alvarez, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland.

Subs - Stefan Ortega, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Manuel Akanji, Matheus Nunes, Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis.