Ivan Toney’s return to football is closer as he has spoken on his eight month football ban for betting breaches.
What did Toney say on the ban?
Toney has been speaking to The Mirror and Sky Sports ahead of his return to senior football. He said: “I didn’t watch football. I didn’t watch football for a while. In a way I punished myself. There was a stage I probably did fall out of love with football. It is what it is, the situation is done.”
Brentford have missed Toney this season. The 27-year-old netted 20 goals for them last season and helped them secure a top half finish. After 19 games into the current season, Brentford sit in 16th – four points off the relegation zone. It seems as though Toney is coming back at the right time.
What has Toney done to stay fit?
Toney wasn’t allowed to train for the first four months but since then he has been apart of the Brentford B team. Toney even scored a hattrick at the weekend which has excited fans.
The English striker commented on the wonderful support that the club and manager Thomas Frank have shown him during his ban: “Thomas Frank has been nothing but the biggest help I could have asked for. The whole club has.
“From putting extra sessions on for me, from taking their time out to put a session on, to go outside when it’s raining, when they’re not even supposed to be in, all these kinds of things.
“I have a lot to be paying them and I can’t wait to try and do that.
“Everybody’s been supportive. The club that was right behind me from the first bit, and the fans were behind me as well, which was a massive part.
“As a whole, everybody knows Brentford’s a family club, they’ve been nothing but amazing to me throughout the whole situation. I can’t thank them enough, especially the fans.
“They were behind me from the first minute as well. I have a lot to repay.”
Will Toney ditch Brentford for Arsenal?
Toney is on Chelsea and Arsenal’s January wish list but Brentford are asking for around £80m. The Bees value Toney highly and they’ll need him for the second half of their season to put relegation fears to rest.
Arsenal showed off their lack of a goal scoring threat in their recent FA Cup match against Liverpool. Chelsea are having the season from hell as they nest in 10th place – a far cry from their European ambition.
According to Toney, Frank isn’t putting the rest of their season in the hands of Toney and there isn’t pressure to return to form: “No, there’s no pressure. It’s just excitement to get back on the pitch.
“Everybody knows at Brentford that I’ll do my best to try and get the club out of the sticky patch we’re in. But no, I don’t feel there’s any pressure.
“Even if there was, I probably wouldn’t feel it because I think that’s what drives me forward. Brentford, we’ve been here before, we know what it takes to get out of it.”
What’s next for Brentford and Toney?
Brentford’s next Premier League match is huge as they take on Nottingham Forest (15th) in a huge relegation match. Toney will be available for selection that day.
The match will be broadcasted on Sky Sports Premier League at 5:30pm on Saturday 20th January 2024.
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