Ivan Toney Speaks Out on Brentford Future Ahead of Impending Return to Football

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Ivan Toney is eager to assist Brentford in avoiding a relegation battle as he prepares to make a comeback to competitive football.

Serving an eight-month ban for violating betting regulations, Toney has been linked with potential transfers to London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

Despite interest, Brentford remains firm on a high valuation for Toney. His suspension concludes on January 17, making him available for selection in the match against Nottingham Forest on January 20.

Toney expressed gratitude to Brentford and affirmed his commitment to helping them stay in the Premier League for the remainder of the season.

“The club was right behind me from the first bit. The fans were behind me, which was a massive part,” Toney said.

“Even when I wasn’t at their games, they were singing my name. And I got loads of messages on social media. A friend of mine sent me a video of the fans singing my name, I got goosebumps to know that they’re still behind me, even though I’m not there.

“Everyone knows Brentford is a family club, they have been nothing but amazing for me. I can’t thank them enough, especially the fans. They were behind me from the first minute as well. So it’s kind of like I have a lot to repay.

“With Brentford, they’re struggling at the moment but I’m sure when I’m back I will play a big part to get them out of the losing form they’ve been in. I can’t wait to get back and be helping my teammates.”

When asked about the pressure of helping Brentford in avoiding relegation, Toney responded: “Not really no. It’s not pressure, it’s just excitement to get back on the pitch.

“Everybody at Brentford knows I will do my best to try and get the club out of the sticky patch we’re in. But there’s no pressure and even if there was, I wouldn’t feel it and that’s what drives me forward.

“Brentford, we’ve been here before and we know how to get out of it.”

Toney also shared how head coach Thomas Frank, captain Christian Norgaard, and former skipper Pontus Jansson supported him during his absence from the game.

“Thomas Frank has been nothing but the biggest help I could have asked for – the whole club has,” Toney said.

“From putting on extra sessions for me, from taking their time out to put a session on and go outside when it’s raining when they’re not supposed to be in. These kind of things, I have a lot to repay them and I can’t wait to try and do that.

“I can go through the whole team who sent me messages. Especially the captain who was there before, Pontus, talking to me about the whole situation.

“Christian Norgaard too. He sat me down and said: ‘How are you? How are you in yourself? Is everything OK?’ And that meant a lot, for someone to actually sit me down and ask me that question.

“My personality is a strong personality and I always am this bubbly person. But for someone to actually sit you down and ask you, even though I’m always good – and even when I’m not good, I will be good – it meant a lot because it showed he actually cared.

“All the other teammates have been messaging me so for him to come up to me, being a big personality, meant a lot.”

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