Jonathan Douglas has hailed the return of defender Karleigh Osborne as a shot in the arm for Brentford’s League One play-off hopes.

The 24-year-old centre back returned to action for the development squad, having been missing for two months with an ankle injury.

In that time Osborne, out of contract in the summer, has been courted over a move to the Championship with Reading during the January transfer window, while the Griffin Park resources have been stretched.

Brentford kept a second successive clean sheet on Saturday as they were held 0-0 at struggling Scunthorpe United ahead of a run of eight games in March.

This month will prove crucial to boss Uwe Rosler’s hopes of leading his side to a top six finish, and Douglas, who has played every league clash for the Bees this term, admitted it was going to be all hands on deck.

“The next month or so is going to be difficult because we have not got the biggest squad here,” he said.

“When you are playing that many games there is less training and it is just about playing.

“Karleigh got 75 minutes or so in the week and it will be great to have him back. He has been a big miss for us and he will be a welcome addition with all the games we have got coming up.

“We are capable of getting on a run and the way we have played this season we are more than capable of getting into the top six.

“The problem is there are plenty of teams ahead of us and below us who think the same.

“We’ve got some big teams to play at home still and anything is possible.”

Brentford shot-stopper Simon Moore refused to take the credit for Saturday’s shut-out at Scunthorpe after heaping praise on the Bees back four.

The 21-year-old deputised for regular number one Richard Lee in the weekend’s 0-0 League One stalemate, which made it three-and-a-half games since the youngster last conceded a goal for the Bees.

Moore followed up clean sheets against Charlton Athletic, Walsall and a second-half blank against Carlisle United on Monday – where he replaced virus victim Lee at half time – by keeping the hosts at bay.

“It was very tough and we always knew it would be,” he said.

“The boys were fantastic. I can’t give the back four enough praise. They were brilliant.

“We have all worked hard as a defence. That is two clean sheets in a row and that is not a coincidence.

“We would have liked all three points, but now we can kick on and go again.”

The Bees travel to Yeovil Town tomorrow.