Evans scores on his return

CHED EVANS made his controversial return to football yesterday with a goal on his Chesterfield debut in a 3-0 win at Ilkeston.

The 27-year-old striker (below) joined the Spireites on a 12-month deal in June just months before he faces a retrial charged with rape.

He played 59 minutes of the Sky Bet League One club’s friendly yesterday, netting in the 53rd minute, having also set up Ritchie Humphreys’ opener.

Evans will go on trial on October 4 charged with raping a woman in May 2011. He has pleaded not guilty.

Evans was jailed and sentenced to five years in 2012, being released in 2014, for rape but the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction in April.

His last game was for Sheffield United against Leyton Orient in 2012.