England manager Gareth Southgate has insisted Brentford striker Ivan Toney can be part of his Three Lions squad at next year’s Euro 2024 despite a lengthy ban for breaching betting rules.
Toney has been suspended from all football activity for eight months, also ruling him out of training at Brentford until September. He will be eligible to play on 16 January 2024, only five months before Euro 2024 starts in Germany.
The Bees star has scored 32 goals in his two Premier League seasons with the club, on top of the 33 he scored en-route to promotion from the Championship in 2020/21.
Toney was called up by England for the first time in March, having already accepted several of the 262 charges brought against him by the FA for breaching strict gambling rules.
Southgate expressed concern about what Tony is doing now that he has not even been able to train in a professional environment for the summer term.
“Sanctions are sanctions. He recognized and accepted the punishment. What bothers me is that we have to take care of people,” England Boss said.
“He’s injured at the moment, what does he do to get fit? How can we give him some structure over the next few months so that he can develop himself or be a better person at the end of this or experience that he might no experience?
“I don’t like the idea that we leave someone out, that they are not allowed to be part of the football community. I don’t think we should be working like that, that’s how the best rehabilitation program works.”
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Waiting for Tony’s final return and the role he will play euro 2024Southgate wanted to emphasize that the door would remain open.
“When he comes back, if he plays well, we will pick him,” said the boss.
“It’s not ideal because he’s going to miss a big part of the season and you don’t know after a period like that how he’s going to adapt physically and how he’s going to play.
“But it’s possible for him, there will still be time. We’ve been really impressed with the way he’s played. I like his personality, his confidence and the way he goes about his job. Still for him everything is possible.”