Thomas Frank admits Ivan Toney is crucial to his Brentford game plan and the striker is likely to start at Brighton on Boxing Day.
The 25-year-old returned to action as a second-half substitute in the midweek Carabao Cup loss to Chelsea after a spell out with coronavirus.
“He is fine,” Frank said. “He should be in a better place for Boxing Day. I will not name the team before Boxing Day but we will see.
“There is a good chance he will start and it is no secret that I would prefer to start him if he is fit and ready, and also to play him as many minutes as possible, so I can go with the right intensity that I want. I hope that will be the plan.”
Meanwhile, Frank has continued to trumpet the England prospects of left-back Rico Henry.
The Dane has tipped the 24-year-old former Walsall defender, who was named in the PFA Championship team of the year last season, as a future international and feels he is constantly improving.
Frank said: “I think Rico is a very interesting left-back and for England I would understand if they look at him and were very aware of him.
“He needs to keep the consistency of those (good) performances. If he does that then I think at one stage he will get his England chance because, with left-backs, it is difficult to get top ones in that position.
“He needs to develop but he is lightning quick, his one-on-one defensive side of the game is crazily good and he has added goals to his CV as well. He is a very interesting prospect.”
