Braintree Town fans could get a chance to welcome back one of their recent success stories tonight when Barnet come to the Ironmongery Direct Stadium for a pre-season friendly.

The game against Barnet tonight, which is due to kick-off at 7.45pm, is set to be another chance for Braintree’s players to prepare themselves against Football League opposition after impressive shows against Essex clubs Southend United and Colchester United.

However, it could also see the return of former Iron player Simeon Akinola, who was sold to the Bees last January.

The 24-year-old winger was a firm favourite on the terraces at Braintree in his three years with the Iron.

The hosts will have other things on their mind, though, and assistant manager Andy Porter said the game would be another chance to lift fitness levels ahead of the start of the Vanarama National League South season.

He said: “We are looking to move on again against Barnet so it won’t be a game with lots of trialists.

“We want to get important minutes into other players in the squad.

“Everyone will get a run-out and we’ll have to assess a few as there are a couple of little niggles in there injury-wise.

“It’s just a case of managing them at the moment to make sure we’re right for the opening day of the season.”