Keith Andrews has praised Callum Wilson’s Premier League experience after the veteran forward joined Brentford on a one-year deal following his departure from West Ham.
Wilson scored seven goals in 35 appearances in all competitions last season but was unable to prevent West Ham from slipping into the Championship.
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The 34-year-old arrives at Brentford to provide competition for forwards Igor Thiago and Kaye Furo.
Brazilian international Thiago, who scored 22 Premier League goals last season, is Brentford’s first-choice striker, and Wilson will provide cover for the 25-year-old alongside Belgian teenager Furo.
Wilson becomes Brentford’s third signing of the summer after they announced the £17million arrival of Jaidon Anthony from Burnley earlier this week.
On Wilson’s signing, Andrews said his experience will help Thiago and Furo as they continue to adapt to the Premier League.
“Callum is someone that everyone will be familiar with; he has been a Premier League goalscorer for such a long time.
“He gives us more options in that area of the pitch, and will he help Igor Thiago and Kaye Furo with the experience that he has.
“He’s just got that nous to score goals, as well as that experience around the training ground.
“This is another really good signing for us.”
Wilson, who has 95 Premier League goals, added that he was ready to help push Thiago after the Brentford striker’s breakthrough campaign last year, while stating he wanted to reach the 100-goal mark next term.
“Many people in my position as a striker, off the back of Thiago having a fantastic season, would probably shy away from the challenge of joining the club. For me, it’s about coming and sharing the load, helping out as a striking department and also adding my qualities as well.
“We’re different strikers, but sometimes I’m guessing we’ll play together as well, so it’ll be nice to be part of it and help the team climb up the league. The club were so close to Europe last year and, this year, hopefully, we can get over the line.
“(Thiago) had a fantastic season. I’m here to push, compete and, like I say, it’s about being a striking unit and department. It’s not, ‘you and me’, it’s togetherness, and there are other strikers in the building as well. If we all perform and push each other, we can help the team push forward, and that’s the key really.
“Strikers don’t score 20-plus goals for no reason; there’s obviously service behind that and team-mates who are looking for you. There are going to be opportunities.
“I don’t shy away from the fact that I’m five goals away from 100 [in the Premier League], so I feel like five chances are going to come pretty quickly here and it’ll be a great opportunity to achieve that.”
