Ben Strevens is convinced defender Alan Bennett is the sort of player Brentford need in League One next season - he has the stud marks to prove it.

The 29-year-old striker played against the Irish centre-back twice last season for Dagenham & Redbridge and has been rooming with the 27-year-old during the club’s pre-season training camp in Marbella.

Boss Andy Scott is confident the former Reading man, who spent last season on loan at Griffin Park, will put pen to paper on a permanent contract having already lifted the League Two title with the club.

And Strevens is equally as bullish when he says he expects Bennett to with the club come the big kick-off at Carlisle United on August 8.

“Andy hasn’t saidn anything to me about trying to convince him to stay, but we’re all hoping he stays, “ he said.

“We know how much of good player he is and he is definitely the sort of leader and character we are gonig to need.

“All being well he’ll be with us, which is just as well because I wouldn’t fancy coming up against him again. He gave me a few kicks last time.”

Meanwhile, a team of Bees youngsters and trialists - including Sutton United’s Bentley Graham - lost 2-1 at Farnborough Town with former AFC Wimbledon striker Kezie Ibe finding the scoresheet.