January 19, (THEWILL) – Brentford striker, Ivan Toney, is poised to make his eagerly-anticipated return to action this weekend after serving an eight-month ban for betting offences. The 27-year-old will captain Brentford at home against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, in a crucial English Premier League relegation battle.
Brentford manager, Thomas Frank, expressed his delight at having Toney back in the squad, highlighting his leadership qualities and goalscoring prowess. “He’s like an eight-year-old boy, he just wants to go out and play,” said Frank. “I’m looking into the eyes of a player who is very committed, very excited. He will start tomorrow, he will lead the team out, he’ll be the captain.”
Toney netted 20 goals last season, but has been sidelined for the past eight months due to his ban. His return provides a timely boost for 16th-placed Brentford, who sit just three points above the drop zone ahead of the clash with 15th-placed Forest. “It’s like a new signing,” remarked Frank. “Not only this week, the last three-and-a-half years, he is a special character in many ways.”
There were initial worries Brentford could lose Toney in the January transfer window, but Frank reiterated the striker’s commitment to the club. “He wants to stay here, he wants to help the team,” Frank stated. Toney’s Brentford teammates refer to him as ‘Big Dog’ – and he will need to live up to that billing to fire Brentford away from trouble.
The outcome of Saturday’s tie could go a long way to determining Toney and Brentford’s EPL fate this season. Yet, the return of the free-scoring striker hands the Bees a massive boost in their bid for survival.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
