Nathan Collins was forced off after 17 minutes against Sunderland, with Keith Andrews confirming the Brentford captain suffered a calf strain.
Brentford captain Nathan Collins suffered a calf strain during the Bees' 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
The defender was forced off after 17 minutes at the Gtech Community Stadium and replaced by summer signing Jannik Schuster, who came on for his Premier League debut.
Keith Andrews confirmed the injury after the game, although the Bees do not yet know how long Collins will be out.
“It’s a calf strain. I don’t know the extent.”
Collins had started Brentford's opening two league games against Tottenham and Leeds and kept his place for Sunderland's visit.
He has been one of the most reliable players in the squad since joining from Wolves and was made captain during the summer of 2025 following Christian Norgaard's move to Arsenal.
Saturday was the first time Andrews had been forced into an early defensive change this season, with Schuster called into action much sooner than expected.
The 19-year-old joined Brentford from Red Bull Salzburg during the summer and had been among the substitutes for the opening weeks of the campaign, but was yet to play a single minute for the Bees.
His first involvement came with Sunderland already asking questions of Brentford's back line, and Schuster had to settle quickly alongside Kristoffer Ajer.
Andrews was pleased with how he stepped up to the occasion.
“Obviously, it’s unfortunate that the skipper had to come off, but it was an introduction for Jannik which I thought he relished.
“I think he wanted that battle and fight against Brobbey, and then Isidor came on as well. I think he stood up to that in a really mature way.”
Schuster stayed on for the rest of the game alongside Ajer.
It was hardly an easy first Premier League assignment. Brobbey gave Brentford a physical problem through the middle, while Isidor was introduced later and offered Sunderland something different.
Andrews also spoke about the confidence Brentford already had in Schuster before the season began.
“Part of the decision to allow Ethan to go was that we were confident in Jannik’s ability in the short term.
“He was thrown into it today and he produced.”
That confidence may now be needed again if Collins is ruled out for any length of time.
Schuster arrived in the summer as one of Brentford's defensive additions, while Pinnock was allowed to leave for Coventry City after seven years in West London.
The move left Ajer, Collins, Schuster and Sepp van den Berg among Andrews' senior centre-back options.
Van den Berg is still working his way back from a groin injury and was unavailable against Sunderland. Andrews said before the game that the defender had been making good progress and was realistically targeting a return after the international break.
Schuster would therefore be the obvious player to step in alongside Ajer if Collins is not ready when Brentford return to Premier League action.
Collins had played every minute of Brentford's opening two league fixtures, helping the Bees beat Tottenham 3-0 before drawing 1-1 at Leeds.
He then started again against Sunderland before the calf problem brought his afternoon to an early end at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford will now have to wait to learn the full extent of the problem.
