The wait is over. English football is in luck with the return of one of its flagship men, a ruthless striker with a goal as his flag. Ivan Toney puts on his boots again after his agony due to a sanction that kept him away from the playing fields for eight months. Brentford’s best footballer, who was banned from playing by the English Federation for breaking betting rules on more than 200 occasions between 2017 and 2021, is ‘free’. His chains have been removed and he is hungry for football.
Toney, who had been “suspended from all football-related activities for eight months, up to and including January 16, 2024,” He was able to train during these months with his club but without participating in official competitions with Brentford. Kind of like buying a child a lollipop and shoving it in their face. Once the well-deserved punishment has been served, the England international striker will be able to revolutionize the Premier League again.
Except capital surprise, The captain of the ‘Bees’ will wear shorts next Saturday from 6:30 p.m. in front of his fans to face Nottingham Forest. His last participation was on May 6, 2023 against Liverpool at Anfield, with a narrow victory in favor of Klopp’s team. 259 days later, his turn has come.
In the press conference prior to the meeting, Thomas Frank, Brentford coach, already anticipated that “he will be a starter tomorrow and our captain.” “He’s like an eight-year-old boy who just wants to go out and play…pure joy of playing football”, added the Dane. Everyone is eager to see them back, and no wonder. At 27 years old, Toney is the leading role model for a team that has missed him greatly this season.
YOUR TEAM NEEDS YOU… MORE THAN EVER
Ivan Toney, who has been left blank this season, had been an ‘earthquake’ last season in the Premier. With 21 goals (20 of them in the league), the English striker was the third highest scorer in the competition, only behind two ‘aliens’ like Erling Haaland (36) and Harry Kane (30). He is the king of mortals.
Without being able to count on their services, The same Brentford that emerged as a ‘giant killer’ last season and ended up staying at the gates of Europe with a more than deserved eighth place, is having a worse time this year. Just three points above relegation and 16th in the table, the ‘Bees’ have suffered greatly without their star striker on the pitch.
Ivan Toney with Thomas Frank last season /EFE
There are few footballers who will move better than him inside the box. Capable of anything, the Northampton player perfectly handles one-on-one and everything that surrounds the ‘art’ that dignifies a born goalscorer. He has enormous skill in the aerial game, using wonderful physical conditions that greatly facilitate his success rate in duels with rival defenders. All in all, Ivan Toney is one of the most complete forwards in the Premier League. We were so excited to have him back.
