Brentford manager to discuss James Tarkowski's future with him today

Manager Dean Smith will today sit down with Brentford FC outcast James Tarkowski and thrash out his future at the club.

Having refused to play against Burnley last Friday, Tarkowski was kept away from the squad this week and made unavailable for selection for the trip to Preston .

Smith remains uncertain whether to bring the want-away defender back into the fold for Tuesday's home game with Leeds United, but hopes the situation will be clearer following today's talks.

He said: “I've spoke with James about it, told him I think he's made the wrong decision. He's given his reasons to us why he made that decision. I don't think it's right for him to play at the moment, but there will be a time when it is right for him to play.

“As I've always said, they're young men, and we forget that sometimes. We've all made mistakes, and at this football club we try to help them come through those mistakes.

"We will certainly try to help him because we believe it was a mistake, and James might not. We know what a good player James is, and we'd love to have him around.

“Internally it's been dealt with, and we'll draw a line under it, reintegrate him in with the players. Will he be available to face Leeds? I'm not sure, that's for me to sit down with James on Sunday and see where we go from there.

“I've got to look at his fitness first and foremost because I gave him five days off when it happened, he's had a bit of a break.

“I think James will have to come out and speak about it as well, for the supporters to understand. I don't know about an apology – we keep talking about an apology – more an explanation, because young people make decisions which are sometimes impulsive. What they have to do is live with them and give us their reasons.”