Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has confirmed that Ivan Toney will lead the side out against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The talismanic striker, who has scored 32 goals in 64 Premier League appearances for the Bees, is available again having served an eight-month ban from football.

“He’s buzzing like an eight-year-old boy who wants to go out and play his first football game – it’s pure joy,” Frank began.

“I’m looking into the eyes of a player who is very committed and very excited.

“I’ll break it now that he will start tomorrow, and he will also lead the team out of the tunnel as captain."

Toney’s last competitive match was the Bees’ 1-0 defeat at Liverpool on 6 May, but he has been allowed to train with his team-mates since September.

And having found the net in behind-closed-doors friendlies against Southampton Under-23s and Brøndby this month, Toney insisted in an interview this week that he is “feeling good” ahead of his return this weekend.

“He is very fit,” Frank continued. “He has played 90 minutes in in-house games. Of course, a Premier League game is another thing, but I’m pretty sure that the excitement and adrenaline will do the rest.

“Ivan is a special character in many ways. He is a fantastic person to be around and I speak for myself, the staff and the players. The energy he brings - the smile, the positivity.

“On the pitch, he drags people and he wants to win. He wants to help the team, so of course it’s a massive boost.

“I’ve said before, it’s like a new signing. There is an argument that he is the second-best striker [after Erling Haaland] in the Premier League.

“It’s perfect timing for Ivan. It could have been away, a 12.30pm kick-off, but it’s home and under the floodlights. There’s a little bit on the game, I would say. He will thrive on that.”

The Bees boss also confirmed that centre-back Ethan Pinnock will start against Forest having sat out of Tuesday’s night’s FA Cup defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Left-back Sergio Reguilón is available for selection having joined on a six-month loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur this week, while skipper Christian Nørgaard – as confirmed on Tuesday night – is sidelined for a short time.