Owusu raises his profile

13 April 2012

Lloyd Owusu wants to take his famous 'raise the roof' goal celebration-into the Premiership one day, and maybe even to the World Cup with Ghana. But right now nothing would mean more to him than victory at Loftus Road tomorrow.

The 25-year-old striker first pushed his hands to the sky to celebrate a Brentford goal four years ago against Darlington, and it has since become his trademark with the fans mimicking his salute.

He's done it 21 times already this season - enough to tempt Millwall into making a transfer deadline-day bid to sign him.

But despite growing uncertainty at Griffin Park, where chairman Ron Noades is planning to retire and where 16 players are out of contract this summer, he insists there is nowhere he would rather be.

Owusu said: "It's like a family here and I love it. Most of us have been together for four years and we get on well on and off the pitch.

"We will all protect each other and look out for each other. That's why we're so difficult to beat and it's why we are so confident."

Brentford's task is clear-cut. They must either draw or win at QPR tomorrow and then beat secondplaced Reading at Griffin Park in the final game of the season to clinch automatic promotion.

Owusu said: "We have two massive matches coming up. But we know deep down that if we have to win a match, we will. QPR and Reading are good teams but we know we can beat them.

"We're determined to achieve something as a group and if there is going to be an emotional farewell for some of us in the summer, then that makes it even more important.

"If I was a Reading player I wouldn't want to come to Griffin Park having to win.

"We've only lost once there all season and the fans can take a lot of credit for that as well. They've been right behind us and they've always encouraged us."

The off-the-field problems haven't been so easy to deal with though, not least Noades' cutbacks.

"We even have to wash our own kit," said Owusu. "But we've got used to it now, and all that stuff has brought us closer together."

Regardless of promotion, Owusu is unlikely to be with Brentford for much longer unless the club comes up with an attractive new contract. "I'm ambitious. Like any player I want to play in the Premiership," he said. "I'm out of contract in the summer and so are most of the team, and there hasn't been a single thing said about new deals so far.

"I'd also like to play international football for Ghana. Both my mum and dad were born there, but I know I have to be in the First Division to do it."

But he says there is one small problem with leaving Griffin Park.

"If I moved to another club, would the fans would already know about the celebration? Or would I have to teach them?

"I've always wondered what it would be like to see 25,000 people doing the Owusu celebration, but I'll settle for 3,000 in the away end on Saturday."

Brentford's only injury doubt concerns Martin Rowlands who needed a pain-killing injection before last week's win over Huddersfield.

QPR striker Andy Thomson faces a late fitness test on a back injury.

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