Brentford’s Macleod expected to miss start of season

Injury-plagued Brentford midfielder Lewis Macleod is unlikely to be available for the start of next season.

The Bees’ head of medical, Neil Greig, told the club’s website that it is “unrealistic” to expect Macleod to return to the first-team squad before September.

Macleod, who turns 23 on Friday, was in excellent form before suffering a knee injury against QPR last November.

“It is realistic for us to predict that Lewis will take a monitored part in elements of the squad pre-season training,” said Greig.

“However, the final stages of his reconditioning will run alongside that through pre-season in order for us to achieve that physical gains that Lewis needs to perform well again in the Championship.

“With that in mind, it’s unrealistic to predict that Lewis will be a fully fit member of the squad for the first league game in August, with a return to the squad at some point in September being more likely.”

Meanwhile, Alan Judge will spend time in Philadelphia in July as part of his ongoing rehabilitation following another operation on the leg he broke in April last year.

And Rico Henry and Josh McEachran are expected to be ready for the start of pre-season.

Henry has a knee problem and McEachran is recovering from an ankle injury.