Thomas Frank praised goalkeeper Mark Flekken ahead of Brentford’s first game of the Premier League season against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Netherlands international - who signed from Freiburg in May - is set for his competitive debut at Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday, having started each of the Bees’ last four pre-season fixtures.

“Flekken was one of the best keepers in the Bundesliga last year,” Frank began.

“I really like his personality; he’s got some of that leadership in him. He is an experienced keeper.

“I like his distribution – I think it’s really good – and I like his dominance in the area on crosses and set-pieces. He’s also really, really strong in one-v-one situations.”

Flekken kept 13 clean sheets in 34 Bundesliga matches during the 2022/23 campaign - the highest tally in the division - as Freiburg finished fifth.

And Frank was bullish in his response when asked about Flekken’s transition to English football.

“Like every new player that comes to a new country, he will need to settle in, but I’m very confident that Mark will do well,” the head coach continued.

“Mark, from the first game, to the second, third and then fourth, has got a little bit better each time. He played a good game against Lille, definitely.

“He is 30 years old, he knows he has to perform, and he knows that there was a good keeper [David Raya] in the goal before him.”