SMITH’S LICKING HIS LIPS ATJUDGE RETURN
BRENTFORD head coach Dean Smith is eagerly anticipating the return of Alan Judge after the midfielder put pen to paper on a new contract.
Midfielder Judge has been injured since April 9 2016, when he suffered a double fracture of the lower leg in a 3-1 victory over Ipswich Town.
But, despite his lengthy spell on the sidelines, Brentford still felt it necessary to offer the Dubliner a new deal, with his original one running out in June.
Judge is now contracted to the Bees until the end of the 2018-19 season, having originally signed from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2014 after a successful loan spell.
The manager was delighted to tie down the 28year-old for a further two years. He hopes to see Judge resume full contact training shortly.
“He has been an integral member of the squad since he joined and has played a massive part in the recent success of the club,” said Smith. “He is close to a full recovery from the terrible injury he suffered and we will certainly reap the benefits when he returns to the standards he was setting in the Championship prior to the injury.
“It earned him his first full international cap and plaudits from managers and peers from within the Championship.
“It is a great boost to the staff, the squad and supporters that his future remains at Brentford.”
After joining the Bees in January 2014 Judge scored seven goals in 22 matches, including one against Preston North End that clinched promotion to the Championship.
He added a further three goals in 41 appearances in 2014-15, before earning his first Republic of Ireland cap in March last year.
It came during a stellar season in which he played 39 games, scoring 14 goals and racking up 16 assists before suffering his injury.