Ivan Toney’s debut as a Premier League footballer wasn’t his most impressive, but it was excellent nonetheless.
A quiet display of self-possessed composure, he knew he would belong at this level, characterized by a Tweeter (opens in a new tab) later that evening, “Nice kick-about with the boys”. He didn’t do enough to score that night – but he did enough for Mikel Arteta to use him as fuel in the reverse game.
Just over a year later, the program for the same match saw an illustration of Toney holding the Premier League ball and holding up three fingers. Two weeks ago he left the Brentford pitch with the match ball after a stunning hat-trick against Leeds United – and now he’s an England international. He is the first Brentford player to be called up for the Three Lions since their return to the top flight. He was always the obvious candidate.
Quite simply, it’s shocking that a player of this caliber has managed to play so much football in the lower leagues without anyone noticing what he’s capable of earlier. Toney is a complete striker and if England don’t take him to the World Cup, Gareth Southgate is making a huge mistake.
The centre-forward position is perhaps the only locked spot for England in Qatar: let’s be clear, for starters. And yet, that’s at least partly thanks to the fact that there isn’t an obvious candidate to recast the role of Harry Kane even a few years from now. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has paled with injuries and uncertainty, Ollie Watkins has had his thunder occasionally borrowed by Danny Ings. Tammy Abraham, working in Roma under Jose Mourinho remains the obvious plan B for the Three Lions golden boy – and is also expected to feature in the tournament.
Ivan Toney, on the other hand, often does his work in silence. If he’s not shooting free-kicks, it’s easy to suggest he’s gone. Much like his second home performance against Arsenal – which got none of the applause of the first but still saw him run the chains, bustle around centre-backs and do a nuisance in exactly the same way, just without the three point rewards this time.
He may not always be victorious – but what he offers is perhaps the closest Kane has to any Englishman.
In the last season, perhaps only the Tottenham man has been a better heist striker than Toney. The England captain went deeper to help Son Heung-min win a Golden Boot: Toney did the same with less fanfare in the first half of last season, turning the spotlight on Bryan Mbeumo, scoring less himself. even, as a result, and infuriating FPL managers who picked him based on his Championship goalscoring stats.
When Christian Eriksen arrived, Toney began to mark more freely, freed from the shackles of having to be both supplier and poacher for bees. He is regularly praised for his muscles: he is not praised enough for his brain.
Whether in a front two or alone in front, he manages to occupy defenders not only with muscle but also with the intelligence to move away from the box to join his teammates. His first assist against Manchester United for Mbeumo’s counter-attack is a testament not only to his strength in holding off opponents, but also to his incredible vision of the game. Could you imagine any other England striker succeeding? Apart from this a.
There are few strikers like Toney in the Premier League – of any nationality. Attackers are usually boxed as Haaland or Firmino. Harry Kane has the best of both worlds, as does Ivan Toney.
In a nation like Spain, Italy or Germany that traditionally has such an elite coach, maybe they realize the importance of unity earlier than others. Perhaps parts of Europe produce metronomic passers in abundance, because in warmer climates it’s best to conserve your energy and let the balloon do the work. In the same way, perhaps England play tactical catch-up, with the typical England forward being light and quick by individual wit to turn a game around on his own. Maybe it’s a desire to keep moving and just to warm up.
England have always had Shearers and Owens, but not so often someone who can stop, think and see past that irrepressible eye for goal. That’s what makes Kane inescapable – but it’s also what makes the idea of him not being available so ominous. For so long he’s been the only member of the England squad without a top-notch assistant – and he just happens to be the most important player.
Toney is not just a take-out luxury in Qatar, in this context. It is a must. Perhaps he will no longer be able to go about his business so quietly.
