Ivan Toney has revealed he is able to assist propel Brentford away from a relegation battle forward of his return to aggressive soccer.
The striker was handed an eight-month ban in Could 2023 after breaching betting laws, however he has since been closely linked with strikes throughout London to Arsenal and Chelsea. Brentford have been adamant that it will take an astronomical determine for them to contemplate promoting Toney.
Toney’s ban might be lifted on January 17 and he might be obtainable for choice once more when the Bees welcome Nottingham Forest to the Gtech Group Stadium three days later. His final objective got here on this fixture in direction of the top of the 2022/23 season.
In Toney’s absence, Brentford have struggled to kick on and have been dragged right into a relegation dogfight after shedding seven of their final eight Premier League video games. Fellow forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade are out with long-term accidents, whereas Yoane Wissa is away on the Africa Cup of Nations.
In an interview with Sky Sports activities, Toney spoke of his appreciation for Brentford and mentioned he was relishing the chance to assist them beat the drop, suggesting he might be staying on the membership for the remainder of the season.
“The membership was proper behind me from the primary bit. The followers had been behind me, which was an enormous half,” Toney mentioned.
“Even once I wasn’t at their video games, they had been singing my title. And I obtained a great deal of messages on social media. A buddy of mine despatched me a video of the followers singing my title, I obtained goosebumps to know that they are nonetheless behind me, regardless that I am not there.
“Everybody is aware of Brentford is a household membership, they’ve been nothing however superb for me. I can not thank them sufficient, particularly the followers. They had been behind me from the primary minute as properly. So it is sort of like I’ve rather a lot to repay.
“With Brentford, they’re struggling for the time being however I am positive once I’m again I’ll play an enormous half to get them out of the shedding type they have been in. I can not wait to get again and be serving to my teammates.”
When requested if he felt the strain of making an attempt to assist Brentford stave off relegation, Toney replied: “Not likely no. It isn’t strain, it is simply pleasure to get again on the pitch.
“Everyone at Brentford is aware of I’ll do my greatest to try to get the membership out of the sticky patch we’re in. However there isn’t any strain and even when there was, I would not really feel it and that is what drives me ahead.
“Brentford, we have been right here earlier than and we all know easy methods to get out of it.”
Toney additionally revealed how head coach Thomas Frank, captain Christian Norgaard and former skipper Pontus Jansson have helped him throughout his time away from the sport.
“Thomas Frank has been nothing however the greatest assist I might have requested for – the entire membership has,” Toney mentioned.
“From placing on further periods for me, from taking their trip to place a session on and go exterior when it is raining once they’re not speculated to be in. These sort of issues, I’ve rather a lot to repay them and I can not wait to try to do this.
“I can undergo the entire workforce who despatched me messages. Particularly the captain who was there earlier than, Pontus, speaking to me about the entire state of affairs.
“Christian Norgaard too. He sat me down and mentioned: ‘How are you? How are you in your self? Is every thing OK?’ And that meant rather a lot, for somebody to really sit me down and ask me that query.
“My character is a robust character and I at all times am this bubbly individual. However for somebody to really sit you down and ask you, regardless that I am at all times good – and even once I’m not good, I might be good – it meant rather a lot as a result of it confirmed he truly cared.
“All the opposite teammates have been messaging me so for him to return as much as me, being an enormous character, meant rather a lot.”
