Bees boss wants Wilson on board for FA Cup trip

The Wales U21 defender was preferred ahead of Alan Bennett to partner Mark Phillips at centre-back at the weekend and played a full part in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Stockport County.

Scott is yet to discuss the 20-year-old’s future with Robins boss Gary Johnson, with Wilson’s loan spell expected to finish in January, but he has handed the Ashton Gate chief a written letter over his eligibility for next week’s trip to the north east.

“I’d love James to be here for a longer period, but we haven’t spoke to Bristol about that yet. It is something we’ll probably start thinking about in the next couple of weeks,” he said.

“He is capable of playing in a number of positions. We started him at full-back earlier in the season because I didn’t think he was quite ready to be in the middle.

“But it was always my intention to play him at centre back and he has proved what he can do. He was disappointed to miss the trip to Hartlepool, but it is up to him to keep his shirt now.

“We’ve already requested he plays in the FA Cup match, but haven’t heard anything back. If he can’t, then there is an opportunity there for the likes of Alan, Leon Legge and Karleigh Osborne to come in.”

The Bees crashed out in the second round of the FA Cup last year when they went down 2-1 at Blue Square Premier side Barrow and Scott is expecting another tricky trip when they head to the north east next Sunday.

“Any away game is a potential banana skin at this stage of the competition, but I’m getting four or five DVDs of them sent to me from people I know at their level to make sure we are prepared,” he added.

“Playing on Sunday affects our training schedule, but we have to get on with it.

“We’ve got to forget about it for now, go to Exeter City on Saturday and make sure we go into the FA Cup on the back of two wins.”

Brentford’s next three games: Oct 31 Exeter City (a), Nov 7 Gateshead (FAC, a), 14 Millwall (h).