Sergi Canos was 'down in the dumps' at Norwich when he caught up with Brentford head coach Dean Smith in December.

The Bees boss spoke with the Spaniard at Carrow Road ahead of their 5-0 defeat and noticed that the former Liverpool man was not himself.

Canos returned to Brentford on transfer deadline day in January and immediately lit the place up and he credited the Bees fans for lifting his spirits with their welcome.

“I saw him when we went there on that ill-fated beating we took,” Smith said.

“I saw him before the game and he was down in the dumps. He wasn't the normal infectious Sergi we are all used to.

“I could see he wasn't enjoying his football and when we got him you saw him on the pitch before the Villa game and he was smiling and happy and like the lad who went back to Liverpool.”