Brentford striker Ivan Toney is an England international for the first time. Toney was called up to the England national team for the Three Lions’ upcoming Nations League matches versus Italy and Germany.
The fixtures will take place in September and the matches against Italy and Germany will be England’s final tune-up for the World Cup in November.
Gareth Southgate surprised some onlookers with the addition of Toney because the World Cup is just a few weeks away and the inclusion of a first-time international was unexpected.
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Toney has six goals in five Premier League matches as of September 16. The striker ranks in the Premier League’s top-five goal-scorers chart.
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford is suffering from injury issues currently and his fitness prevented him from being called up with Toney being selected instead.
Rashford is also in good form this season however, with three goals and two assists in six matches in the league, but he sustained an injury against Arsenal in a 3-1 win at Old Trafford in early September.
Toney, 26, joined Brentford in September 2020 from Peterborough United for £5.04 million. Since joining Brentford, Toney has been on an upward trajectory with 17 Premier League goals and six assists.
The striker was previously on the books at Newcastle United for three seasons, but after a mere four senior appearances for the Magpies, Toney was sold to Peterborough United for £351,000.
Toney is an example of a player who develops later in their career and wasn’t capped by England at the youth level but was approached by Jamaica in 2021.
The Jamaican Football Federation attempted to lure Toney to the national team, but he turned down its advances and is now set to become an England international.
Five years ago, Toney was playing League One football for Peterborough United and it seemed like he was destined to spend the rest of his career below England’s top flight.
The striker had already reached the heights of the Premier League at 19 years old when he signed for Newcastle United from League Town club Northampton Town.
However, Toney’s time with Newcastle United was short and he is now experiencing redemption on the pitch. Toney will hope Southgate is sufficiently impressed to earn a World Cup call-up in November.
Along with the Rashford being omitted from the squad, Southgate hasn’t called up Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho either. Sancho is in good form but will miss the September international fixtures.
Toney’s inclusion isn’t the only surprise as Tottenham’s Eric Dier is also in the team. Dier last played for the Three Lions in November 2020. His form at Tottenham has been rewarded with a call-up and he will provide Southgate with more options in defence.
