Marcus Bean may have dropped two divisions in English football to sign for Brentford last summer, but he believes the Bees have what it takes to get him back to the Championship.

The 25-year-old switched to Griffin Park from Blackpool last summer to end a miserable spell in Lancashire, and promptly landed the League Two title in his first season in west London.

The former QPR midfielder, who sat out last week’s win over Stockport County due to suspension, has been in and out of the side this sterm and is yet to make a real mark on League One.

But he reckons the move back south has already been fully justified and could ultimately see him return to the second tier of English football sooner rather than later.

“You are only as good as the level as you are at, but the Championship is the level I aspire to get back to. I definitely feel that is possible with Brentford whether that be this year or next,” he said.

“The club is pushing forward. There have been big changes on and off the pitch and my decision to drop down has been justified.

“The average team in League One is a lot better. Week in, week out you have to be at a certain level otherwise you will lose. You could be at 60 or 70 per cent last season and still win.

“I’ve been promoted from this league before and compared to those teams we have a good balance in the squad.

“We just have to adapt to the competition and believe in ourselves a bit more. If we do that I can see us doing something this season.”

Bean, who celebrated his birthday on Monday, contributed nine league goals from midfield last season having developed a productive partnership with club stalwart Kevin O’Connor.

He is yet to find the net this term, but he is determined to at least repeat last year’s form as he faces a scrap with fit-again David Hunt for a starting slot in the Brentford engine room.

“I was kicking myself when I picked up a yellow card at Leyton Orient. I’d had a little run of games and was finding some form. It was really disappointing to miss out last week,” he added.

“I’m desperate to score goals. I work on my finishing everyday and also the timing of my runs, so hopefully they will soon come.

“First and foremost there are other areas of my job I have to concentrate on, but I’d love to chip in with some goals and get back to the levels of last season - if not better.”