Bees midfielder Marcus Bean reckons he will be on the bench for a while longer if midfield rivals David Hunt and Kevin O’Connor continue the form that saw off Norwich City on Tuesday night.

The 24-year-old is yet to start a game this season as boss Andy Scott’s men have opened the league campaign with two wins and a draw, including the 2-1 scalp of the Canaries.

Bean, who has shaken off the effects of an early season hip injury, was one of the side’s shining lights as Brentford lifted the League Two title last season, but has been kicking his heels on the sidelines with Hunt and O’Connor leading the engine room.

Hunt’s blockbusting second-half free-kick capped a fine performance for the former Northampton Town man having already set up Ryan Dickson for his side’s first with a trademark long throw.

But Bean is confident he will take his chance when it comes his way.

“I need some game time to get match fitness but I’m chomping at the bit to be involved in what has been a good start to the season,” he said.

“It was a good win against Norwich, which would have been nice to have been part of, but sometimes you’ve got to bide your time.

“Performances like that mean it looks like I’ll be on the bench again at the weekend, but that is life and hopefully when I get my chance I can take it with both hands.”

Brentford brushed aside the challenge of Norwich once Dickson had headed his side into a 51st minute lead, before Hunt added the second with aplomb.

An injury-time Owain Tudor-Jones goal sparked a few nervous moments late on, but Bean believes the fighting spirit honed in League Two was always enough to see the Bees home.

“Coming off the back of winning the league, confidence is high and that is showing in the way we are playing. We have shown no fear, which is what you get with a young bunch of lads,” he added.

“The majority of the squad has done their apprenticeship in League Two. We have been toughened up and hardened, so we are only going to get stronger where other teams might tail off a bit.”