Lee Hodson insists the target remains promotion with Brentford this season despite a lucrative FA Cup tie with Chelsea this weekend.

The Watford defender, who lives in Borehamwood, has been on loan at Griffin Park since November.

Hodson has impressed for the League One promotion contenders and he is hoping to guide the Bees into the Championship at the end of the season.

The 21-year-old, who is likely to feature against the European champions on Sunday, said: “It’s going to be a good game for the club and for the fans but I think our main concentration is on the league this year.

“We’ve got a good chance of being promoted so it’s another big game on Sunday but then we’ve got to concentrate straight away back on the league which is probably our main focus.

“I think we’re looking at promotion and we’ve definitely got the squad.

“We’ve got a good bunch of lads and promotion is on the cards so we just need to keep our heads down, keep working hard, putting in performances to get results and I definitely think we can be up there and get promotion.”

Hodson marked his 100th professional game with the man-of-the-match award in Brentford’s 2-2 draw at home to Leyton Orient on Tuesday night.

The Northern Ireland international, who broke into the Watford side as a teenager, said: “It’s great to obviously have that 100th game but hopefully there are many more to come.

“When I was in my first couple of seasons at Watford things happened really quickly and I got brought into the first team at 17, which I didn’t really expect to happen.

“At the time there were a few injuries and the gaffer just said I’m going to come in and I was only 17. I remember my first professional start was against Swansea away and it was great to be given that chance.”

Hodson insists his move to the Bees has helped his career after falling down the pecking order at Watford.

The former Boreham Wood youngster said: “It’s benefited me loads because at Watford I wasn’t really involved so it’s not really good just sitting at a club and not really doing anything. I came out on loan to get games and hopefully perform for the club and that’s my main aim.”

The Hornets are enjoying a fine season under Gianfranco Zola and are in contention for promotion back to the Premier League.

But Hodson is uncertain about his long-term future at Vicarage Road and is just focused on helping Brentford achieve their goals.

The defender said: “At the moment I haven’t really spoken about it.

“I’m at Brentford so that’s my main focus. I’m here until the end of the season so I’m just going to work hard, get my head down and do the best for the club.

“At the end of the season, when it comes to it, then I guess we might have talks but at the moment I’m just concentrating on Brentford.”