Left-back Ilias Chatzitheodoridis is desperate to earn his Championship debut after a series of successful appearances in the Carabao Cup and the Brentford B Team.

The Greek defender has played in all three rounds of the League Cup in his second season at Griffin Park having come through the academy at Arsenal.

Now, with Rico Henry injured and Tom Field away on loan, the 20-year-old is aiming to force his way into Dean Smith’s first-team plans.

"That's my target now; to have more minutes, get a league game and play for this team,” Chatzitheodoridis said.

“I think it's been a good season so far for me. I've played three games for the first team in the Carabao Cup. I'm really happy about this, and I felt these were good games for me.

“The last game against Norwich, the score was disappointing and we didn't progress to the next round, but overall I was happy to have played those games.”

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And while he is desperate to run out at Griffin Park in a full league game, Chatzitheodoridis knows he must put the effort in on the training ground to catch Smith’s eye.

He has been training with the first team squad to enable him to slot in comfortable should the opportunity arise and the 20-year-old admits it’s been an easy transition.

“Even when I was playing in just the cup games, I was feeling good,” he added.

“I was waiting to get a chance in the league games as well and so now I'm working hard in training every day to get that chance.

“If I'm not involved with the First team or playing with them then I always am happy to play for the B Team and I always give 100% to them."

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"After training with the squad a lot, every day since September, it's been really nice. I enjoy it because I'm training with players who play in the league where I want to be involved.”