Watch Ivan Toney SCORE in long-awaited return to action as he plays for Brentford reserves amid eight-month betting ban

IVAN TONEY scored on his return to football in a behind closed doors friendly for Brentford’s reserves.

The English striker, 27, is serving an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules and cannot feature in competitive action until January.

Twitter / @BrentfordFCIvan Toney flicked the ball over the Como keeper[/caption]

Twitter / @BrentfordFCHe then calmly took another touch before slotting into an empty net[/caption]

Twitter / @BrentfordFCIt was Toney’s first game since his eight-month ban for breaching betting rules[/caption]

But he returned to training last month as Bees boss Thomas Frank‘s looks to get him back up to speed.

And he found the net for Brentford‘s B side on Tuesday as they played out a 2-2 draw with Italian outfit Como.

Toney ran onto a through ball before flicking it over the keeper’s head and calmly slotting into an empty net.

The forward’s ban ends on January 17, but the first scheduled Premier League game he would be available for is away at Tottenham on January 30.

This is subject to change dependent on fixtures being moved around nearer the time.

However, there has also been speculation Toney could have played his final game for Brentford.

That’s because there is reported interest from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.

Appearing on Monday Night Football in September, Frank appeared to open the door to the sale of Toney – who has scored 68 goals in 124 games for Brentford.

Toney has averaged more than a goal every two games for BrentfordReuters

Discussing the prospect of his striker leaving, he said: “So far we’ve only sold one in the Premier League, that was David Raya – or that’s a loan but probably will be a sale in the future, I guess.

“I think every club in the world are a selling club except five or six clubs. We are a selling club, if the right price is there.

“I think if it’s the right time for the player to go, from my perspective that’s not my decision that would be Phil [Giles, director of football] or Matthew [Benham, Brentford’s owner] in the end.

“Then I think if they have developed well with us, been on the journey, and now they’re proven good enough to go to the top clubs, then I think it’s the right thing, if it’s the right price.”