Brentford boss Mark Warburton insist out-of-favour midfielder Toumani Diagouraga still has a future at Griffin Park.

The Frenchman has featured 17 times this season but just once since Warburton took charge - as a substitute in the victory at Peterborough earlier this month.

Diagouraga, who still has 18 months to run on his contract, has slipped down the pecking order in TW8, with Jonathan Douglas and Alan McCormack ahead of him in the queue for the holding midfield spot.

However, Warburton insists the 26-year-old still has a part to play in Brentford's promotion push.

He said: "Toumani's a very good player and an important member of the squad.

"He came on at Peterborough and performed well when Dougie got injured, but he's obviously frustrated because he wants to be starting more games.

"We've got 22 players champing at the bit and competition for places keeps everyone on their toes."