Defender Moses Odubajo owes his rise to the brink of the Premier League to an unlikely source.

The 21-year-old has been one of Brentford’s star men this term as boss Mark Warburton has led the Bees to the Championship play-offs.

They head to Middlesbrough tonight – trailing 2-1 from the first leg of their semi-final tie – to play for a place in next Monday’s Wembley final and a shot at reaching the top flight.

But Odubajo might never have got as far as lacing up his boots as a pro, but for a British Transport Police officer with a heart when he was a 16-year-old on trial at Leyton Orient.

“I was at Stratford station on the way to a trial for Orient and it was the day before I was getting told whether I was getting a scholarship or not,” he said.

“Because I wasn’t getting paid at the time, my neighbour had a free-to-travel Oyster card and from time to time I used to borrow it.

“A transport policeman came up to me on the platform, for no reason, and asked to see the ticket.

“When he realised it wasn’t for me, I told him the whole story, which thankfully he believed.

“He rang the youth team manager who said my story was true and let me on the train.

“It was the second time I had been on trial and I did not think it would work out, so I was looking at my other options, such as college.

“I signed a contract a day or two later, thanks to that man – whoever he is.

“I’ve come along way since then.”

Brentford have lost all three of their encounters with Middlesbrough this season.

But centre back James Tarkowski is confident of ending that run.

“You have to look at performances as well as results,” he said.

“We played well enough to get a result in the last two games we’ve played each other.

“The first one of those was decided by a penalty and the other night was looking like a draw until the final minute.

“We owe them a result.”