Andrews: Bees star Thiago deserves his success

Keith Andrews says Igor Thiago deserves to be regarded as one of the Premier League’s best strikers.

Thiago scored a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory for Brentford at Everton, taking his goal tally for the season to 15.

He has made an emphatic return from a long-term knee injury and only England captain Harry Kane, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe have scored more goals than Thiago this term.

Bees head coach Andrews said: “He’s in pretty esteemed company there, but he’s earned it.

“He’s been on a journey where he was injured for a lot of last season and settled into the club.

“He’s such a popular player and person amongst our group, and a special person that he deserves everything he gets. He works hard and is selfless.”

The win lifted Brentford to seventh in the table – just four points away from the top four.