Brentford striker Ben Strevens has vowed to come back better than ever after being told he will sit out the first two months of the season having broken his leg against Hayes & Yeading at the weekend.

The 29-year-old has been in fine form since switching to Griffin Park from Dagenham & Redbridge at the start of the summer and was expected to be Brentford’s attacking fulcrum with Charlie MacDonald still sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Nathan Elder’s departure to Shrewsbury Town earlier this week signalled the arrival of former Premier League striker Carl Cort in west London to boost Brentford’s front line.

Strevens, who fractured his fibula just above his ankle, will be in plaster for four weeks before beginning his rehab with a view to returning by the end of October.

The MacDonald/Cort/Strevens trio will be a strike force to be reckoned with at League One level next season and the crocked former Dagger is already itching to get back and play his part.

“It is a blow. I’ve been a bit down about it but everything happens for a reason I suppose,” he said.

“It looked like I’d be in the team for the first match, but it is going to be difficult to regain my place in the team.

“Other people are going to come in and do well for the team so my job now is to make sure I’m as fit as I can to come back and fight for my place.

“I haven’t done anything like this before, so it is unfortunate. At the same time I haven’t missed a league game for two years prior which is unusual, so I suppose was due something.

“I’ve got an opportunity to get my upper body strength up - which is a positive - and before I know it I’ll be back.”

The injury means Carl Cort is boss Andy Scott’s only specialist front man for Saturday’s trip to Carlisle and while team mate Danny Foster admits he will be missed, he is backing his former Dagenham colleague to shine on his return.

“I’m good friends with Strevs and they say it happens to the good guys and he is one of football’s good guys,” he added.

“I’m devastated for him and I’m sure he’s devastated with the season starting. We’ll miss him, but I’m sure he’ll bounce back strong, fit and raring to go.”