A woefully out of form Brentford host a Newcastle side enjoying a dramatically contrasting spate of results in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Since the turn of the year no side has played more Premier League games (eight) than Thomas Frank’s stumbling Bees. Yet, only two clubs have collected fewer points in 2022 (four).

Here’s the XI that Frank could deploy to provide an extra layer of safety between his bus stop in Hounslow and the first exit of their maiden Premier League journey.

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David Raya (GK) – Only Liverpool’s Alisson bounds outside the safety of his penalty box to halt the opposition more often than Brentford’s proactive number one.

Kristoffer Ajer (CB) – Criticised by his national team manager for picking up ‚bad habits‘ given the ease with which he breezed through the Scottish top flight, there haven’t been many straightforward outings in his debut Premier League campaign.

Pontus Jansson (CB) – No outfield player has racked up more Premier League game time than Brentford’s skipper, missing a grand total of nine minutes all season.

Ethan Pinnock (CB) – The Jamaica international has played more passes with his head than his weaker right foot this season.

Sergi Canos (RWB) – The only two assists of Canos‘ burgeoning Premier League career came within 20 minutes against Newcastle back in November.

Shandon Baptiste (CM) – A typically safe passer, Baptiste’s threat is a unique ability to weave forward with the ball at his feet.

Christian Norgaard (CM) – The outrageously prodigious defensive screen has played 160 games for Frank across shared spells at Brondby and Brentford.

Vitaly Janelt (CM) – Ushered on in place of the injured Mathias Jensen during last weekend’s defeat to Arsenal, Janelt could keep his spot if Christen Eriksen’s highly anticipated return doesn’t come in the starting lineup.

Rico Henry (LWB) – When the flying fullback netted against Newcastle it was his second goal in as many games – matching the tally he accrued in his previous 126 league outings. However, he is yet to score since.

Bryan Mbeumo (ST) – One of the division’s unluckiest players, only Tottenham’s Harry Kane has underperformed their expected goals (xG) tally to a greater extent than Mbeumo (two non-penalty goals from 5.5 xG per FBref).

Ivan Toney (ST) – The one-time Magpie could match the achievements of the eclectic pairing Abdoulaye Faye and Craig Bellamy as the last former Newcastle players to score home and away against the Toon Army in the same season (2008/09 according to the Premier League’s official website).

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