Bryan Mbeumo faces 'weeks' on the sidelines with a 'bad' ankle injury... after the Brentford star limped off in their defeat against Brighton

Brentford manager Thomas Frank has confirmed Bryan Mbeumo is facing weeks out with an ankle injury after limping off against Brighton.

Mbeumo scored the opening goal in Brentford's 2-1 defeat against Brighton on Wednesday night, after the Cameroon international put the Bees ahead from the penalty spot.

The forward was forced off in the 40th minute after rolling his ankle when attempting to defend against Pascal Gross.

Frank admitted that Mbuemo's injury was 'bad' and expects the forward to be out for weeks.

Mbuemo is Brentford's top scorer this season with seven goals in the Premier League, with the forward helping to fill the void left by the suspended Ivan Toney.   

'It is bad,' Frank said. 'He'll have a scan later, but we don't know the exact number of weeks he will be out.

'He will definitely not play on Saturday [against Sheffield United], and he will be out for weeks. We will know more in the next couple of days.

'It was hard to replace Ivan, but we found a way. It's the same this time – we'll find a way. That's what we normally do.

'Do I want Ivan and Bryan in my team? Any day: Yes. But that's football - it happens sometimes. 

'We will find a solution and other players are ready to step up.'

Mbeumo is one of eight Brentford players currently on the sidelines through injury.

Frank has expressed optimism over Mikkel Damsgaard's fitness, after the Danish international played the final 20 minutes on his return from injury on Wednesday.

Brentford remain 11th in the Premier League following their midweek defeat against Brighton.

The Bees will attempt to respond on Saturday when they travel to Bramall Lane to face relegation threatened Sheffield United.