Nico Yennaris says joining Wanderers was just what he “needed” after growing frustrated with a lack of opportunities at parent club Brentford.

The 21-year-old, who celebrates his birthday on Sunday, joined Blues on loan from the Bees alongside Sam Saunders in February and has gone on to feature in all 16 games since.

It is the longest run of professional games in his career, having previously struggled to make an impact at Brentford where he was resigned to playing under-21 football before arriving at Adams Park.

He said: “I just needed to be playing football, getting that match fitness, get a rhythm and get a run of form going. It’s been ideal for me.

“It’s been the longest run of consecutive games for me, which is what I needed to develop as a player. Playing games every now and then at a higher level is obviously good, but then you need to be playing every week.

“I was playing in the under-21 games just to keep fit. As a first team player you don’t really want to play in those games but sometimes it has to be done just to get a run-out. It did get frustrating.”

Gareth Ainsworth has deployed Yennaris, who made his Premier League debut in January 2012 after coming through the ranks at Arsenal, at centre-back, right-back and central midfield during his stay with Blues.

The Bees loanee has impressed in all three roles and he hopes one final good display will help Wanderers triumph at Wembley.

“It’s my first time and everyone wants to play at the national stadium,” he said.

“I think as a kid everyone wants to do it at some point, whether it be League One, League Two or Championship. Not everyone can say they’ve done it and it will be a great day.”