Brentford were still desperately trying to sign an experienced keeper on loan this week for the opening League One fixture of the season at home to Blackpool on Saturday as Stuart Nelson is suspended.

Manager Leroy Rosenior, let down by two keepers changing their minds about coming to Griffin Park, said: "We are trying to bring in someone on loan otherwise we will give young Clark Masters his league debut.

"But it would not be ideal."

Rosenior had hoped former Bristol City stopper Nathan Abbey would play against Blackpool, but could not afford to offer him a contract and the player ended his brief pre-season spell with Brentford to sign for Torquay United.

Venezuelan custodian Mikhael Jaimez was trialled in the Bees' 3-0 win at Harrow Borough on Monday, but is unlikely to be preferred to the 19-year-old Masters, even though he has played in Romania and was given a trial by Spurs in February.

Brentford will also be without new centre-half Adam Griffiths against the Seasiders as he is also suspended, but they have snapped up 6ft 3in central defender Matthew Heywood on a month's loan from Bristol City and he will make his debut, probably alongside Andy Frampton.

Rosenior has failed to agree terms with former QPR defender George Santos, but said: "Heywood has come with a view to a permanent deal.

"He is 26 years old and has a big physical presence."

But Heywood, like fellow debutant Thomas Pinault and Oli Skulason, has just recovered from a serious injury.

Heywood, whose last game was for Bristol City against Brentford in February, revealed: "I missed the last four months of last season as I needed a cartilage operation on my right knee.

"But I have fully recovered and hope to help Brentford get off to a good start."

Before playing 22 games for Bristol last season, Heywood spent five years at Swindon Town and prior to that was at Burnley.

He was brought to Brentford by chief scout John Griffin, who is the uncle of Bristol City manager Gary Johnson.

Griffin, now in his 60s, was this week rewarded for nine years' hard work at Brentford by being promoted to assistant manager by Rosenior the manager he helped appoint!

Frampton and Heywood formed a new centre-back partnership on Saturday when Brentford drew 0-0 away to Crawley.

Jo Kuffour and substitute Charlie Ide went nearest to scoring for the Bees.

Brentford: Nelson; O'Connor, Frampton, Heywood, Tillen (Charles 51mins); Brooker, Pinault, Skulason, Kuffour; Santos (Moore, 54), Rhodes (Ide 79). Subs not used: Masters, Griffiths, Fitzgerald, Willock, Tomlin, Mousinho.

In their last pre-season friendly at Harrow Borough on Monday, the Bees won 3-0 with a team made up of youngsters and triallists Jaimez, Bruno Luz and Adam Bernard from QPR. The goals came in the second-half from Ide, Brazilian Luz and young Ivailo Dimitrov (penalty).

Brentford: Masters (Jaimez 65); Mousinho, Osborne, Griffiths (Howes) Maberley; Tomlin (Bernard), Carder-Andrews, Dark, Luz; Willock (Montague 58), Ide (Dimitrov 70).

Brentford are expected to host a full international friendly on Tuesday, August 15 (7.45pm), between two nations who competed in the recent World Cup Ghana, who reached the last 16, and Togo.