Bees boss Andy Scott has revealed he is hunting high and low to bring in some firepower with Nathan Elder’s suspension leaving him short up front - and reinforcements could come before the weekend.

Brentford travel to Macclesfield Town on Saturday, but have only Charlie MacDonald and 19-year-old Moses Ademola as their only specialist strike pairing.

Talks with Ipswich Town over Dean Bowditch have stalled with the former Bees loan star likely to be involved in the Tractor Boys’ FA Cup clash with Chelsea at the weekend.

And, while winger Marvin Williams filled in admirably when Elder was handed an early bath on Saturday, Scott insists he needs more specialist personnel up front.

“We are every low on numbers up front and we have spoken to a lot of clubs and been to a lot of matches to see if we can bring someone in,” he said.

“We are a lot further down the line with things, but I honestly don’t know if something will happen before the weekend or not.

“Ipswich are able to name seven subs in the FA Cup so we understand if Dean is needed.”

Scott is more interested in picking up points in Cheshire than the performance and Saturday’s draw in adversity means he is confident anything is possible.

“It is a tough place to go, but we have played a lot of tough games and have come out on top. It is important we keep picking up points no matter how they come,” he added.

Goalkeper Simon Brown looks set to remain at the club for the time being after Darlington cooled their interest by signing Colchester United’s Dean Gerken on a month’s loan.

Meanwhile, Bees chairman Greg Dyke has laughed off suggestions Scott might be persuaded to fill the vacant manager's post at League One Leyton Orient.

"I can't believe he'd go. He's got a side challenging for promotion," he told BBC London 94.9.

"Orient aren't a richer club and look like they could be relegated so why would he do that?

"Over the years we've, by-and-large, been in a higher league than Orient, they're not a bigger club than we are.

"He's only been in the job for a year and I think young managers need to be careful - I thought Paul Ince was the classic example of someone who went up too far, too fast."