Toney is not holding any Toon grudge

IVAN Toney insists he was not looking for revenge and had no point to prove on his Tyneside return at the weekend.

The striker scored at St James’ Park in Brentford’s 3-3 draw with his former club, helping the Bees earn a point as both sides looked to boost their survival bids.

On Newcastle’s books from 2015 to 2018, Toney (below) played just four Toon games and was loaned out six times before being sold to Peterborough.

Since then, he has not looked back and has proved prolific in League One, the Championship and now the Premier League.

Yet despite having few chances to show what he could do, the 25-year-old said he holds no grudge against Newcastle.

He said: “On a personal level, scoring meant a lot but there are no hard feelings against the club.

“They still hold a place in my heart and I wish them all the best for the season.

“I feel like there is a point to prove every game I play.

“It was to just go out and enjoy it. Whatever happened in the past, maybe I was not ready.

“Maybe I was not good enough, who knows? At the time, the club had a decision to make and the decision was to let me go.

“Like I said, there are no hard feelings. The club still holds a special place in my heart and I am sure it will forever because without the stepping stone of being at Newcastle I would not be where I am today.”

Toney also revealed he knew exactly where to shoot and had goalkeeper Karl Darlow scouted, even though the Magpies’ No 1 made a mess of stopping his 11th-minute shot.

He added: “You know the basics, hit it low and hard.

“We checked out what the goalkeeper’s best attributes were before the game so basically just hit it low and hard, you have every chance as long as it is on target. I have done that and got on the scoresheet.”