Following surgery on his ankle, Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo will miss the Africa Cup of Nations for Cameroon and be out for three months, according to Thomas Frank, the manager of the Premier League team, who made the announcement on Friday.

Mbeumo led Brentford’s scoring charts this season with seven goals and three assists in the league, filling in for suspended striker Ivan Toney.

Nevertheless, the Cameroon international continued Brentford’s lengthy series of injuries when he hobbled off the pitch after twisting his ankle against Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this month.

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“(Mbeumo) will not participate in the Africa Cup of Nations,” Frank said.

“Bryan is a positive guy. It’s tough to take, but he will come back stronger. He has a very good mindset.”

Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, and five-time winner Cameroon are in Group C for the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on January 13.

After one victory and four losses in their previous five games, Brentford has fallen to 11th place in the league.

With Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Kevin Schade, and Kristoffer Ajer also out with injuries, Frank stated they would be searching for more players in January.

“Almost from game one we’ve struggled a little bit with injuries. But we still have a good group of players who are willing to fight,” he said.

“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 or four weeks.”