Brentford are expected to have eight absentees for Saturday's Premier League home meeting with Manchester United.

The Bees have struggled during an injury-hit campaign, picking up 26 points from 29 matches to leave them in 15th place and five points above the drop zone.

With the international break completed, Brentford are set to resume their survival bid with a tricky game against Man United.

Unfortunately for Thomas Frank, he will not have any of his injured players back in time for Saturday's clash at the Gtech Community Stadium.

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Pinnock, Schade closing in on a return to action

Defender Ethan Pinnock has been absent for the last six matches after sustaining an ankle injury against Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 10.

Forward Kevin Schade has made just six appearances this season, having been out of action since September due to an adductor issue.

Frank has revealed that Pinnock and Schade are both making progress but Saturday's contest will come too soon for the pair.

"Kevin Schade has now trained with the squad for the last two weeks," Frank told reporters on Friday. "It looks better but it's still too early for him to be involved tomorrow."

"Ethan Pinnock is progressing well but also still too early. It's going in the right direction with the two of them."

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Frank provides update on key duo

The Brentford boss also said that full-back Aaron Hickey is "further down the line" in his rehabilitation from a hamstring problem.

Hickey has been restricted to just 11 games this season and has not played since featuring in a 2-0 win over Chelsea in October.

Meanwhile, Frank has reported that captain Christian Norgaard is "progressing" in his recovery from a back issue that he picked up in the defeat to Arsenal earlier this month.

The Bees are also unable to call upon Ben Mee (ankle), Rico Henry (knee) and Josh Dasilva (knee), who are set to miss the remainder of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur loanee Sergio Reguilon spent the first half of the campaign at Man United, but he will be unable to face his former club after being sent off against Burnley before the international break.