Brentford have developed a reputation for bringing some of the most talented foreign players to the Championship in recent years.

The likes of Jota and Florian Jozefzoon have proved their abilities in west London before moving on to other second-tier clubs, while Neal Maupay, with 22 goals this term, is showing his finishing prowess in his second season at the club.

But the signing of Said Benrahma from Nice last summer could be the shrewdest bit of business yet for Brentford.

Although he had a relatively slow start to his career in England, Benrahma has been involved in 12 goals in 11 appearances since the turn of the year and put in his most eye-catching performance yet with a hat-trick and an assist in the 5-1 win over Hull City on Saturday.

(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

The Algerian has certainly found his feet at Griffin Park, and said after the latest victory: “It took me some time to adjust and adapt to the Championship, and now I do feel a lot more comfortable playing here and in this division. Things are going really well.

“I was obviously delighted to get the goals, and to do it in such a great team performance made it very special.

“It is the first hat-trick I have ever scored, and something that I will always remember – it makes you pleased and proud.

“Our objective now for the rest of the season is to finish as high as we can and continue to climb the table.

“And for me personally I would love to play in the Premier League one day, and I don’t see any reason why that can’t be with Brentford. Any player wants to test themselves at the highest level.”

Benrahma has developed a fearsome understanding with Maupay, and the two now have 30 goals and 21 assists in all competitions between them this season.

(Image: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

“It helps me that there are a few French speakers in the squad,” Benrahma added. “Neal, he is like my brother, a little brother. He has helped me a lot with settling in.

“He has scored 22 goals now this season and I am delighted for him too. He deserves that success, he just wants to score and is our best goalscorer.”

That impressive form led Maupay, 22, to be linked with Huddersfield, Middlesborough and Aston Villa in January.

Keeping hold of their talented attacking duo could be a challenge for Brentford. History shows that Premier League and Championship clubs are bound to come calling if they continue to perform and the Bees’ transfer policy is to sell if the asking price is met.

But the pair are certainly enjoying playing at Griffin Park for now, and Maupay echoed Benrahma’s sentiment about the strength of their relationship on and off the field.

“Said is like a brother to me,” Maupay said. “We made our debuts together in the same team at the Nice academy. I have known him for four years, and he is a close friend.

“When he was first thinking of coming here he called me and asked ‘Neal, what do you think, can I play for Brentford, do I have the right qualities’.

“So to see him here and now playing like he did against Hull is really great, amazing. It means a lot for me he is succeeding, he has worked really hard and is very happy.

“I knew all about his quality, and although it was hard for him at first it was just a matter of time before he showed it. he is a top player, his hat-trick was incredible.”

After the win on Saturday, Brentford are 16th in the Championship table and sit 10 points off the top six.

That position will be disappointing to some Bees fans after they held second place seven games in, but a run of 15 matches with only one win has left them in mid-table.

“We had a bad spell earlier this season, the reason why we are not higher in the table,” Benrahma added. “There were changes, of course with the new manager coming in. But now we are back to near our best.

“We play football, we know what we are doing and it is working.”

And with six wins in Brentford’s last ten league games, Maupay insists the squad still believes promotion is possible.

“We still believe we can reach the play-offs,” the Frenchman said. “Obviously we are far away at the moment and it will be difficult, but we won’t give up. We want to show that quality in every match now.

“As long it is mathematically possible we will fight until the end.”

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