Campbell has scored 12 goals for the Bees this season

"He's got great feet and a low centre of gravity to twist and turn around people," said Allen, who signed the 24-year-old from Yeading in June 2005.

"We spent a lot of time with him increasing his awareness of playing in a team and not just as an individual.

"But it was vital for us not to lose the creative magic he has."

Allen brought Campbell to Griffin Park from Yeading in a �5,000 deal and has been delighted with the development made by the striker.

He added: "He's a fantastic player. When I signed him from Yeading I told him he would have three or four months of hard work, a lot of it individual, to build up his body strength.

"With the dedication he has shown at the training ground and with the magic he has got - and he's getting better by the week - his self-belief is increasing."

Brentford 2-1 Sunderland

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy, meanwhile, said being knocked out of the FA Cup by League One outfit Brentford was his lowest point of the season.

"They were better than us and deserved to win, no question," he stated.

"I have to be careful because I don't want to criticise Brentford - they deserved to win and the two finishes were excellent - but I wouldn't expect us to concede two goals like that.

"If I had been playing at centre-half he wouldn't have scored them - and I'm 47.

"We're not guaranteed to win because of our Premier League status - it's not compulsory. I can only concede that they were better than us on the day.