Neil Warnock believes winger Junior Hoilett will be playing for Cardiff City again in 2017-18.

The 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season, but Warnock is keep the former Queens Park Rangers player in his squad.

“There’s no problem with Junior if I’m here,” he said. “He’ll be here next year. I’m very optimistic of that.”

Centre-half Sol Bamba will be missing from the Cardiff City team after having to go off during their 0-0 draw at Barnsley midweek.

Goalkeeper Allan McGregor also went off injured, but the Scotland international has not yet been ruled out of the clash with Brentford.

“It’s difficult to say with Sol, he’s had a scan,” said Warnock. “He won’t be available for the weekend, but we don’t know the state of it. It doesn’t look good.

“McGregor’s bruising has gone down a lot and if there’s any doubt he won’t play. Brian Murphy has done well when he’s played.”

Murphy, Cardiff’s second choice keeper, took over from McGregor at Barnsley.

Sean Morrison was among the substitutes in midweek and he could return to the starting line-up and take over from Bamba in a reshuffled team.

While Cardiff prepare for their remaining six matches, centre-forward Rickie Lambert is not sure what the future will bring.

Warnock has said Lambert does not feature in his plans and the former England international could well be moving on in the summer.

Lambert has had niggling injuries and has not played since February 11.

“He is fully fit, but it’s not a matter of him being fit now,” said Warnock. “Is he better than the others on the squad at the moment? I’ve felt not.

“He is training, but at the moment I don’t think he’s happy with his fitness. He’s going to be training hard and trying to get back in the squad.”

Lambert is under contract through next season, but Warnock says: “I’m more or less 90 per cent sure of what I want to do in the summer, but that’s easier said than done when people are under contract.”

Saturday’s visitors Brentford are 12th in the Championship table, four points ahead of Cardiff City.

They have earned three successive League wins, beating Burton Albion 5-3, Bristol City 2-0 and Leeds United 2-0. Romaine Sawyers and Lasse Vibe scored the goals against Leeds.

“Cardiff have a great home record since Neil Warnock became manager,” said Brentford’s Dean Smith. “When he took over they were struggling a bit, but he has helped them climb to a healthy position in the league.”

Brentford players Ryan Woods and Nico Yennaris have both sustained injuries and are rated 50-50 for the match at Cardiff City Stadium.

Possible line-up, Cardiff City: McGregor or Murphy, D John, Connolly, Manga, Morrison, Bennett, Noone, Gunnarsson, Halford, Pilkington, Zohore.