Brentford head coach Keith Andrews has delivered a significant boost ahead of Saturday's West London derby against Fulham, confirming that defender Aaron Hickey is fit and available for selection. Hickey, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since late February, is set to bolster the Bees' backline for the crucial Premier League clash at the Gtech Community Stadium.

"Aaron Hickey is available from the last game, which is a bonus for us," Andrews stated. "He's been missing for a number of weeks, so it will be nice to get him back involved. He was close last weekend, but he's had a good week's training." His return is timely for a Brentford side looking to solidify their position in the table against a local rival.

The update on other squad members presented a mixed picture. Midfielder Jordan Henderson is reportedly the next closest to a return, though Andrews was cautious about setting a firm timeline. "He's not too far away, maybe over the next couple of weeks," the coach noted, emphasizing his reluctance to give unrealistic expectations for players working their way back from injury.

For key players Rico Henry and Vitaly Janelt, the wait continues. Both are still recovering from their respective hamstring and metatarsal issues and are not ready for immediate action. However, with five or six weeks remaining in the season, Andrews remains hopeful they can still play a part in the campaign's finale.

Providing further squad news, Andrews confirmed that Mikkel Damsgaard, who played through illness last week, is set to return to full involvement. Conversely, forward Furo Kaye will miss the Fulham fixture after sustaining a slight groin strain in training prior to the Everton match.

There was also a positive long-term update on Josh Dasilva, who is making steady progress from a serious knee ligament injury. "He's been building really well behind the scenes," Andrews said, expressing excitement about eventually reintegrating the talented midfielder into the squad, while being careful not to add undue pressure on his rehabilitation journey.