Christian Eriksen has settled in "fantastically" at Brentford but manager Thomas Frank will not be rushing a competitive debut.
The 29-year-old, who joined the Bees on transfer deadline day, is building up to his first match since his shocking cardiac arrest at the European Championship last summer.
Eriksen has joined in with training and Frank said: "It's very good to see him out there. I spoke to Christian after the training. He was just pleased and happy to be part of a team and a club again and do what he loved the most.
"We know he is a humble, down-to-earth, quality player but he’s coming in with that natural presence. Because of the way he is, he’s blending in fantastically with the group and the culture we have here, so it’s good."
Eriksen will not be part of the Brentford squad for Wednesday’s Premier League trip to leaders Manchester City, and Frank wants to make sure the former Tottenham and Inter Milan playmaker is fully up to speed before throwing him into the fray.
"It’s of course something we will constantly speak with him about," said the Bees boss.
"We’ve got all the data and all his injury status, all the history, so we know all that but, to know him, all the small bits about his body and his comeback to top pace again, we need to speak to him daily.
"So that will be an ongoing process for the next one, two, three weeks. One thing for sure, he will not play against Man City, but let’s take it day by day.
"We want to hit that perfect balance. He hasn’t trained with a team for seven months and I think it’s important that we don’t get a minor injury and make a setback even though he’s got a fine, strong foundation to stand on.
"I’m pretty sure we need to get some match minutes in him in a friendly before we put him out there."
Eriksen’s arrival comes with Brentford in a first real sticky patch since their promotion to the Premier League.
They have lost their last five matches, conceding 16 goals in the process, and now face the most formidable test in the league with a trip to City.
The Bees can take confidence from a fine performance against the champions just over a month ago, when they restricted Pep Guardiola’s side to a single-goal victory.
Frank said: "If we go there and get something out of that match it will be one of the biggest surprises in this year’s Premier League.
"But it’s still 11 versus 11, we will do everything we can to take our chance, we will be ready and we’re looking forward to a massive challenge, maybe the biggest of the season."
Brentford welcomed back goalkeeper David Raya for the first time since October against Everton last time out, while Josh Dasilva made his first appearance for nearly a year as a substitute following a long-term hip problem.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has joked that some of his players will be fined for going on a night out – because he was not invited.
Footage reportedly shot on Sunday has emerged on social media of City stars including Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker outside a venue in Manchester city centre. The video appears to show Grealish being refused entry before being led away.
This comes after the 26-year-old was disciplined along with team-mate Phil Foden in December for reporting for training in an unfit state following a night out.
Guardiola, however, insists he has no issues on this occasion and feels the video presents an unfair representation of what occurred.
Guardiola, whose side beat Fulham 4-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday, said: "I'm so upset – because they didn’t invite me! I don’t like it. Hopefully next time they can invite me and do the dinner correctly at 8 o’clock.
"The video didn’t show exactly what happened – dinner together, sober, enjoying (time) with their mates and some of the backroom staff.
"The players know there is a risk when they go out today because of social media but all of them – Riyad, Kyle, Ally (Marland, staff), Jack were perfect. But they will be fined because they didn’t invite me!"
Asked if he was frustrated by how the video portrayed the players, Guardiola said: "In this case, yes."
Guardiola has also played down any sense of urgency over a need to resolve his long-term future.
There have been reports the Spaniard is prepared to extend a contract that is due to expire at the end of next season.
Yet the 51-year-old, who has won eight major trophies in six years with City, insists there is no rush and the matter is not an immediate priority.
He said: "It is as good as this because we won a lot and are winning a lot, that is why it is good. Otherwise I would not be here after six seasons.
"After one, two, three, four, five years it depends on the results and the results were good, that is why we continue.
"Still I have one-and-a-half years’ contract. It is a lot of time in world football. We see how managers were sacked this season, not just in England but everywhere. That is why I am just thinking in the next game, the next period."
Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus will again be missing with the injury sustained on international duty recently, but Guardiola has revealed the problem is not serious.
"Soon he will be ready," he said. "I spoke with him this morning and he feels good but still is not perfect. He has a bit of a niggle, muscular. We just have to be careful, be alert."
