BRIAN HOWARD is close to shattering his personal pre-season goal with half a campaign to spare as he prepares to do battle with some old friends at Griffin Park tomorrow.

The England Under 20 international looks poised to benefit from Andy King's system switch with a likely berth on the left side of a middle four against Brentford.

Howard said: "I have started or been involved in 18 games so far and at the start of the season I set myself a goal of featuring in 20.

"You have to set yourself goals in football and this is one I should reach, hopefully over Christmas."

However, Howard is not about to rest on his laurels when he finally hits the 20-match mark.

He said: "The more I play, the better I'll get. I am enjoying playing in front of the crowd here and I'm getting positive comments. You obviously want more of that."

Howard, meanwhile, has his fingers crossed that he gets the nod tomorrow.

He said: "The gaffer says he's going to change things.

"I'm hoping it could mean a place for me on the left side of midfield.

"I'd like to think I've done enough on previous occasions to show that I can do a job for the team.

"I'm not an out-and-out left winger but I have played there in the past for Southampton.

"A few of the lads have mentioned playing a four. The gaffer has made the decision and it's now up to the players to perform."

Like his colleagues, Howard is unhappy with Town's position.

He said: "You get what you deserve in football and we have to stop giving away sloppy goals, while making sure we take chances at the other end.

"We have lost seven games and if we are looking at promotion I don't think we can afford to lose too many more."

As for tomorrow, Howard is as well placed as any to point out Brentford's threats to his manager.

Bees' boss Wally Downes has brought in Leicester City striker Tommy Wright on loan, an England colleague of Howard's.

He said: "I know Tommy and also Joel Kitamirike who was with me at Chelsea. I'm sure Rhys (Evans) knows all about him too. Mark Peters is there too, a lad I was with at Southampton.

"They're all very physical players and I'm sure it's going to be a hard, physical game.

"This match forms part of a four-game Christmas spell and I think we need to be looking at getting at least nine points. We need to keep playing football, not hitting it long. That's not our game. We have to scrap and battle when necessary but we're a footballing side."