Anyone getting excited about seeing Walsall defender Rico Henry in a Brentford shirt anytime soon, may need to think again.

The England U19 international penned a five-year deal with the Bees on transfer deadline day for an initial fee of £1.5m - a club record fee for a teenager.

The 19-year-old left back, who come through the ranks at League One club having joined the Saddlers as an 11-year-old, is currently on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

It means Callum Elder and Tom Field will continue to battle it out for the left back slot in head coach Dean Smith's starting 11.

"We are fully aware of the extent of the shoulder injury and have taken expert advice on it," said co-director of football Phil Giles. 

"Our medical team will continue to liaise with the consultant to determine the best treatment option.

"The main priority is that Rico recovers well and is 100 per cent fit in the long term.

"We are very comfortable with the fact that Rico may not play for Brentford in the foreseeable future as Tom Field and Callum Elder will continue to compete for the left back position.”

Henry was in the PFA League One team of the year last year and was shortlisted for the Football League young player of the year gong as well.

And Smith is pleased to be re-united with a player he thought would have been plying his trade in the Premier League by now.

“Rico is a player I worked with at Walsall and threw him into the first team at 16 in pre-season friendlies and he more than held his own in those games, he had no fear, and was playing in League One shortly afterwards," said Smith. 

"He’s a talented player, fearless, and likes to bring the ball to opponents.

“He will provide competition down the left side along with Callum Elder and Tom Field.

"I’m surprised and delighted we’ve got Rico to the football club as I thought a Premier League side would have signed him by now.

"His development hasn’t stopped and there’s a lot more to come from him.”