Sources: Cox selected for record-breaking Brentford debut v Man United before cancellation
Brentford goalkeeper Matthew Cox had been selected to make his debut against Manchester United on Tuesday night before the postponement, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.
The 18-year-old was set to become the youngest-ever keeper in the Premier League if the match had gone ahead.
A Brentford source has told Football Insider that manager Thomas Frank and his coaching staff have been impressed with the speed of Cox’s development and he was set to be thrown in against United.
Bees number one David Raya is a long-term injury absentee and Alvaro Fernandez has replaced him for the last eight matches.
Cox has been on the bench for those games, seven of which were in the Premier League.
Brentford could have opted for an emergency loan following Raya’s injury in October but opted to show faith in teenager Cox.
The England youth international moved to the club from AFC Wimbledon over the summer (2021) and signed a three-year deal.
Cox had not made an appearance for the Dons so Tuesday’s game against Man United would have been his professional debut.
Fernandez also moved to west London over the summer but has been far from convincing between the sticks.
The one-time Spain international, 23, has kept just one clean sheet in seven Premier League games.
He is on loan from Huesca until the end of the current campaign.
In contrast, Raya kept three clean sheets in nine top-flight appearances.
In other news, an injury expert has revealed a Brentford star could be out for five months amid a ‘second injury’ verdict.