Brentford plot Rico Henry injury return schedule after year on sidelines

Rico Henry will make his long-awaited return from injury in a friendly before Brentford risk playing him in the Premier League.

The left-back has missed 12 months of football after suffering the second serious knee injury of his career last September.

Standard Sport understands the Bees want to test him first in a friendly or B-team game.

Henry is not expected to be in the squad for the trip to Manchester City on Saturday, despite having been in full training for more than three weeks.

Brentford intended to field the 27-year-old in last Thursday's 0-0 friendly draw with QPR, but he picked up a minor knock before the game, so was not risked.

Aaron Hickey (hamstring) and Igor Thiago (meniscus) are out with long-term injuries, while Josh Dasilva

said this week he hopes to be back from his knee injury by January.

The midfielder said in an interview with Rising Ballers: "I can't pinpoint a time, but hopefully before the end of the year I'll be back in full training."