Cameroon blow as Bryan Mbeumo ruled out of AFCON

The 24-year-old Indomitable Lions and Brentford striker has been forced to undergo surgery on his injured ankle, which is expected to sideline him for roughly 12 weeks.

Bees boss Thomas Frank though expects his top goalscorer to come back even stronger.

"Bryan is a positive guy, he will come back stronger. He has a very good mindset," said Frank on BBC.

Mbeumo was injured in Brentford's 2-1 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion on December 6.

With the AFCON set to kick off in the Ivory Coast on January 13, Mbuemo is unlikely to make coach Rigobert Song's final squad for the continental showpiece.

Speaking on the possibility of signing cover for the forward, Frank added: "Almost from game one we've struggled a little bit with injuries.

"We need to look at it in January, but we never rush into things. We try to be clever and take calm and sensible decisions.

"We will not take a player if we don't think it's for the longer term. Maybe this time a loan, but it depends on how things go over the next three of four weeks."

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