Scott Hogan could make his return to action for the Brentford development squad on February 29 against Crystal Palace.

The Bees striker has been out since August 2014 after sustaining a cruciate ligament injury at Rotherham.

Sadly for the former Rochdale man, he suffered the same injury in March last year and is, now, returning slowly to action.

And the Bees have pencilled in the home game against the Eagles at the end of this month as a chance to get him some action.

Head coach Dean Smith said: “He's training really well. He wants to be playing regularly now but we've had to handle him very softly.”

Out for the season: Andreas Bjelland

Andreas Bjelland is also stepping up his return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury but there is no expectation to see him in a Brentford shirt this season.

Smith added: “He's holding up well. He's back on the green stuff striking a ball. I've yet to see him after his nasty injury.

“It'll be good to have him back in the ranks at the end of the season. I don't think he'll feature this season. We'll be looking at next season but we'll wait and see.

“He's a nice lad. Everybody seems to be really good people. In terms of recruitment, recruiting good people is a common theme. The good people know the right ways and the wrong ways.”