Ivan Toney’s return to football after his gambling ban has been a major damp squib. He’s barely scored for Brentford after returning in the New Year, and his star (as well as the previously incessant transfer links) was fading.
So last night’s try out in England’s final friendly before the Euros was a big moment for him. His strong showing, including winning and then scoring a penalty, not only likely gets him into Gareth Southgate’s squad for this summer’s tournament, it also goes some way to showing clubs that he’s still a player capable of operating at the very top level of the club game too.
Joe Cole, who was on punditry duties for Channel 4, had some interesting words on the subject. He was impressed that Toney had stepped up:
“I thought he was brilliant all night. I thought he held the ball up so well. [For the penalty] he timed his run so well and he knows there he is the boss of the situation, he has to be brought down and once he put the ball down you did not expect anything else.
“I was a bit concerned as this isn’t the Brentford stadium, this is Wembley for England and another level up but this is as cool as you like and I think he really played himself into the squad tonight. I really do.”
Toney is not going to get the crazy bidding war some expected this summer, but a couple of good showings for England in Germany could certainly restore some of the previous excitement about him and a potential move to Chelsea.