IVAN CAN P
5 2 Toney ti
Meslier ........................................... 6 Drameh ........................................... 5 Koch ............................................... 4 Llorente .......................................... 4 Struijk ............................................. 6 ROCA .............................................. 6 Adams ............................................ 5 Sinisterra .......................... 5 Aaronson ........................................ 5 Harrison ......................................... 5 Gelhardt ......................................... 6
ON HOME soil, Brentford have won five, drawn two and lost just one of their last eight Premier League games, after losing eight of the 13 before that (W3 D2).
Southampton (away) .... PL Arsenal (home) ............. PL Bournemouth (away) .... PL
Sep 12 Nottm Forest (home) .... PL Sep 18 Man Utd (away) ............. PL Oct 2 Aston Villa (home) ........ PL (above) (bottom) celebrates scoring Brentford’s third goal
TONEY may have just one more match to gate-crash England boss Gareth Southgate’s World Cup plans. The 26-year-old hitman claimed a superb and timely hat-trick in a barnstorming display against defensively-dire Leeds.
The Three Lions squad for the games later this month against Italy and Germany will probably be announced after the Bees’ fixture away at Southampton.
And though Toney’s form and talents demand consideration, time is running out. History tells us that even in a group of seven forwards there could be three out-and-out strikers.
One of those will be captain Harry Kane — and Tammy Abraham, Callum Wilson, Dominic CalvertLewin and Ollie Watkins are also vying for spots.
Loyal
Southgate is at the same time conservative, loyal, and not the quickest to react to changes in league form. But Toney looks currently to be the best of the rest.
Thomas Frank, fondly recalling his clinching phone call from Denmark that persuaded Toney to come to then-Championship Brentford rather than go straight to the top flight, is in no doubt.
He said: “Kane is No.1 but there is not a better English striker than Ivan after Kane on form. England have been in a few penalty shootouts and if they want to win one they need to pick Ivan.”
Toney’s first goal, his 50th for the Bees, came from the spot — his 18th successful conversion from 18 attempts for the club.
Chip
The second was a thundering freekick after persuading usual takers Matthias Jensen and Bryan Mbeumo to step aside. And the third was a sumptuous chip over retreating defenders.
Mbeumo, who scored Brentford’s fourth after a long VAR offside check, said: “Ivan has so many qualities. He can pass, he can shoot, finish, drop and play with the ball, and lead the line.
“And that all makes him a very hard player for the opponents to deal with because he can change his type of play.
“Looking ahead to the World Cup, I absolutely believe he w thing new and differen that England already
“He has a different a file, and for me he rea chance with his count has his abilities, Call his, and Ivan has some
Josh Dasilva said: “I thing you would want