Brentford’s Super Eagles centre-back Benjamin Fredrick is edging closer to a return to competitive football after suffering a knee injury in late November during a training session with Belgian Pro League side Dender, where he is on a season-long loan.

According to Nigerian journalist Shina Okeleji, Fredrick is now nearing full fitness and he's expected to remain at Dender for the remainder of the campaign as part of his development pathway.

Dender confirmed at the time that the 20-year-old sustained the injury in training and would begin rehabilitation immediately.

He subsequently returned to England to continue treatment and recovery under Brentford’s medical supervision, a move that ruled him out of action for several weeks.

The setback came at a particularly difficult moment for the young defender. Fredrick had quickly established himself as a key figure in Nigeria’s backline, starting each of the Super Eagles’ last six matches under head coach Eric Chelle before the injury.

His absence was keenly felt, as the knee problem ultimately ruled him out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Before the injury, Fredrick had been enjoying a breakthrough phase in his career.

Known for his composure on the ball, versatility across the backline and impressive pace, he had earned praise from supporters and pundits as one of Nigeria’s most promising emerging defenders.

At club level, the loan move to Dender was designed to provide him with consistent first-team football..

The switch followed a strong spell within Brentford’s youth ranks, where he impressed sufficiently to secure a permanent contract with the Premier League side.

Wale Adejumo