Summer signings Neal Maupay and Nathan Collins grabbed the headlines in Brentford's thrilling 3-2 comeback win over West Ham United on Saturday - but our latest analysis piece focuses on a player who has sparkled in west London for the best part of five years.

Maupay netted his first goal since re-joining the Bees against the Hammers, while Collins powered home a match-winning header (in addition to making an incredible 13 clearances) to bag a valuable victory that lifted Thomas Frank's side to ninth in the Premier League.

There were strong displays all over the pitch for Brentford, but the beating heart of a performance bursting with quality and character was forward Bryan Mbeumo.

He may not have added to his six goals and two assists in the Premier League this term, but the Cameroon international was a constant menace against David Moyes' side - and all three Brentford goals involved Mbeumo to some degree.

Mbeumo’s break down the right marked the start of a sustained spell of pressure that led to Maupay's opener and it was his devilish delivery, from a well-worked corner, that West Ham defender Kostas Mavropanos diverted into his own net to bring Brentford level at 2-2.

Another composed phase of play on the Bees' right, featuring Mbeumo and Mathias Jensen, then led to the Dane's cross being thudded home by towering centre-back Collins for the matchwinner.

Mbeumo was on a one-man mission at times against the Hammers: three rasping efforts whizzing just the wrong side of Alphonse Areola's far post during a memorable five-minute spell before the break.

A star performer since joining from Troyes, Mbeumo has played more games (177) than any Brentford player since the start of the 2019/20 season - scoring 43 goals and supplying 34 assists - and only Ivan Toney (65 goals and 19 assists) has been more productive for the Bees over this timeframe.

What has been so impressive about Mbeumo this season, in Toney's absence, has been his transformation from sidekick to star man.

Mbeumo’s eight goal involvements this season mean he has been involved in 42 per cent of Brentford's 19 Premier League goals; only Erling Haaland (13), Mohamed Salah (12), Ollie Watkins (10) and Son Heung-min (9) currently more productive than the 24-year-old in the top flight in 2023/24.

As his four shots against West Ham testified last weekend, Mbeumo has upped his goal threat and he averages 2.8 shots per game this season, more than at any point in his Brentford career to date.

Much to his credit, his trademark penetration and creativity remain fully intact. Wolves' Pedro Neto (23) is the only top-flight forward to send in more accurate crosses this season than Mbeumo (20), who also ranks in the Premier League's top 10 for shot-creating actions.

There is no doubt that Brentford's strength lies in the collective... but Mbeumo's individual displays are consistently top notch.