Ched Evans made a goalscoring return to football after netting in Chesterfield's pre-season victory against Ilkeston on Saturday afternoon.

The former Sheffield United striker was making his first professional appearance in four years after spending two-and-a-half years in jail, although he had his conviction for rape overturned in April.

And while he awaits his retrial, the striker - who penned a one-year contract, worth around £2,000-a-week, with the League One club - made his return to the professional game on Saturday.

Ched Evans (left), pictured in action on Saturday, was making his first professional appearance in four years

Chesterfield striker Evans (right) is congratulated by his new team-mates after scoring in the 3-0 victory

Evans, a former Wales international, provided an assist for Chesterfield's opener before showing his attacking prowess to net his side's second goal in their pre-season match at the New Manor Ground.

The 27-year-old was eventually replaced with just over half-an-hour to play and was pictured being congratulated by his new team-mates on his return to the bench.

Evans, who begun his professional football career with Premier League giants Manchester City, had not played professionally in four years following his spell behind bars.

The Crown Prosecution Service has pursued a new trial which is scheduled to start on October 4 at Cardiff Crown Court.

Evans was jailed on April 20, 2012, following a Crown Court trial in Caernarfon and was released midway through his five-year sentence on October 17, 2014.

He has maintained his innocence and the conviction was quashed in April after a referral by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Evans provided an assist for Chesterfield's opener before showing attacking prowess to net his side's second

The 27-year-old ex-Wales international was eventually replaced with just over half-an-hour to play on Saturday

He played 59 minutes of the Sky Bet League One club's victory and was congratulated by his new team-mates

TIMELINE OF THE FOOTBALLER'S RAPE CASE: HOW HE CAME BEFORE COURT May 30, 2011 - Evans, then a Sheffield United striker, is arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at a Premier Inn near Rhyl, north Wales. April 20, 2012 - He is convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman and sentenced to five years in prison following a trial at Caernarfon Crown Court. May 30, 2012 - Evans is released by Sheffield United at the end of the football season. November 6, 2012 - The Court of Appeal refuses him leave to appeal his conviction or reduce the length of his sentence. October 17, 2014 - Evans is released from prison after serving half of his sentence. November 11, 2014 - Sheffield United faces a public backlash after saying it would let him train with them, an offer it later withdrew. TV presenter and club patron Charlie Webster quits and Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill demands her name be taken off the Bramall Lane stand in protest. October 5, 2015 - Evans's case is referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Case Review Commission on the basis of new information after a 10-month investigation. March 22, 2016 - The appeal hearing is held at the High Court in London. April 21, 2016 - Evans wins appeal against conviction and is granted unconditional bail. Court of Appeal orders a fresh indictment 'must be served' and that 'the appellant must be re-arraigned on that fresh indictment within two months of today'. The venue of the retrial, the trial judge and the date of the retrial 'will be determined by the Senior Presiding Judge for the Wales Circuit', Mrs Justice Nicola Davies. Advertisement

His last game was for Sheffield United against Leyton Orient on April 14, 2012 in which he scored in a 3-1 win for the Blades at Bramall Lane.

Previous attempts by clubs to sign Evans failed amid protests. He came close to joining Chesterfield's League One rivals Oldham in January 2015 but the club pulled out of the deal following pressure from sponsors.

Shortly before that Evans also had an invitation to use Sheffield United's training facilities rescinded after more than 150,000 people signed a petition opposing it.

The striker had not played professional football since 2012 after serving two-and-a-half years in jail

Evans leaving the Court of Appeal in London with partner Natasha Massey, after he won his appeal in April