England opportunity too good to pass up – Toney
Published:Wednesday | September 21, 2022 | 12:07 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
FORMERLY A target for the senior national team, newly minted England call-up Ivan Toney said that the expanding chances of being able to play for the land of his birth as well as improving his own performances in the English Premier League (EPL) were factors that played into turning down an offer to play for the Reggae Boyz.
Toney, who plays for Brentford, was speaking at a press conference yesterday ahead of England’s Nations League fixture with European champions Italy on Friday, the first of two games England will have in this window with the 2022 World Cup two months away.
Toney was selected as part of head coach Gareth Southgate’s squad for the game which also includes a tilt against Germany on September 27. Toney was being approached by the Jamaica Football Federation as part of their overseas recruiting efforts.
However, Toney said his sole focus was getting Brentford promoted to the EPL last year. That, along with improving his craft in the top division, meant a rejection of the offer.
“I turned them down because at the time I was focusing on the play-offs and it was a big chapter in my career. And I wanted to focus on getting promoted to the Premier League so that was the main thing at first,” Toney said.
“And it then sort of fizzled out and I just concentrated on playing in the Premier League, which is everyone’s dream. And I felt that my chances were getting bigger and bigger to play for the England senior squad.”
Toney described his maiden call-up for England as a privilege and hopes that it will be the start of more opportunities to show what he can do on the international stage.
“There are big names that I am playing with. I have got to take it in my stride and hope that I get some more playing time with them,” Toney said.
Toney has scored five goals in seven appearances so far for Brentford and the club are currently in ninth place.