James Tarkowski will not be considered for selection for Brentford's home meeting with Leeds United on Tuesday night but head coach Dean Smith expects the defender to remain with the club after the transfer window closes.

The 23-year-old refused to play against Burnley on January 15 and has been absent from the squad since then.

Tarkowski has been training with the first team since last Thursday but will not be in action when the two sides meet at Griffin Park.

Smith sat down with the defender yesterday for further talks, although the Bees boss was reluctant to give anything away about what was said.

Below are the questions put to the Brentford head coach and his answers.

Question: How was the meeting with James Tarkowski on Sunday

Dean Smith: “I've sat down with James a number of times since what happened a week ago. He's a great lad around the place. I've said quite a lot on it already. I'm sure James is going to come out with a statement and he will give his reasons why he made the decision he did. He's a young lad. I think we've all made mistakes. We won't bite his head off for it. We'll try and help him through the tough period he's had.”

Q: What vibe have you had from him?

DS: “We've always had a cordial relationship from him. That hasn't changed. I made it known how I felt over his decision and he understood my reaction but we've never not got on. It's just a case of how we integrate him back into the team now.”

Q: Is he available for Leeds?

DS: “He's not available for Leeds. I don't think it's right and it's still a bit too raw. We have a break at the weekend and we can, hopefully, have him back for the weekend after.”

Q: Is fitness the issue now?

DS: “He's doing extra sessions at the moment as he had a five day period and a couple of day where he didn't play. He reintegrated into the group already. Some will have been disappointed but it's part and parcel of life.”

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Should James Tarkowski play for Brentford again?

Q: What does Tarkowski have to do if he returns to appease fans?

DS: “When the time is right and he's selected he needs to play well and show what he's about, which he has always done when he puts the shirt on. That's the way to build bridges.”

Q: It's giving Yoann Barbet, or Jack O'Connell a chance to keep the shirt right?

DS: “It has. That is the carrot for James now, once he gets fit and we reintegrate him into team selection. Yoann came in and did very well on Saturday.

Q: Is it Yoann's shirt to lose?

DS: “All players, every week, when they grab the shirt and it's for them to keep. The ones who played Saturday did very well and maybe earned the right to keep them. Konstantin Kerschbaumer and Sergi Canos came on. I'll have a look at how the players are before I decide on the team for Leeds.

Q: If he was to leave, would a defender be on the agenda?

DS: “We'll always have a plan if players do go but I don't envisage James leaving. As I said before it all started, nobody has got near his valuation and I don't see it happening in the foreseeable future.”