Brentford’s Ivan Toney is expected to win his first England call-up when Gareth Southgate names his latest England squad at 2pm.
The news comes after doubts over Marcus Rashford’s fitness, with the 24-year-old still feeling the effects of an injury picked up in the 3-1 Premier League victory over Arsenal on September 4, when he scored twice to take his season’s tally to three.
Having sat out United’s opening Europa League game, a 1-0 home defeat to Real Sociedad, Rashford will again be missing for their second group game away to Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday.
As a result, Southgate has moved to include Toney, who has scored 13 Premier League goals since January, in the squad.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Brentford’s win against Leeds in the Premier League.
The 26-year-old has scored 17 top-flight goals and registered six assists in 39 appearances for the Bees since the start of last season, and scored a 28-minute hat-trick in the thrilling 5-2 at home to Leeds on September 3.
He has not been capped by England at any youth age group and was reportedly courted by the Jamaican Football Federation last year in an attempt to persuade him to declare his allegiance to them.
England face Italy away on Friday September 23 at 7.45pm, before hosting Germany on Monday September 26 at 7.45pm.
More to follow…
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Brentford’s win against Leeds in the Premier League.
‘Penalty king Toney has more than justified his inclusion’
Sky Sports’ Dan Long:
“It has been 83 long years since a Brentford player last won a senior England cap. There are precious few Bees fans still with us who will have been alive when Les Smith made a substitute appearance against Romania on May 24 1939, less than four months before the outbreak of World War Two. Even fewer, if any, will remember the occasion.
“But that near century-long wait is likely to soon come to an end.
“It is a more than justified inclusion for 26-year-old striker Toney, who was playing in League One just four seasons ago. Before his move from Peterborough to west London, he made it abundantly clear that he was so confident in his ability that he could step up to the Premier League. The claim was scoffed at by many.
“In 2021/22 – the Bees’ first top-flight season since 1946/47 – he led the line admirably, with 17 goal involvements in 33 league appearances and he has started this campaign with an added spring in his step, with five goals from just six shots on target – including a superb hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Leeds – and another two assists.
“He is not afraid to get stuck in elsewhere on the pitch, which often goes unnoticed. He is often a key presence when Brentford defend set-pieces, has won 20 aerial challenges so far and attempted six crosses. There is a certain selflessness to his game.
“But what is most interesting, from an England perspective, is Toney’s penalty record. He has been Brentford’s first-choice spot-kick taker ever since joining the club and he has scored every single one of the 18 he has taken. Back in March, Bees head coach Thomas Frank said he is the ‘best penalty taker in the world at this moment in time’
“Toney has often been, lazily, dubbed a penalty merchant and nothing more. But as has been the case in the past, he has had the last laugh.”
England’s World Cup group B fixtures
Gareth Southgate
November 21: Iran (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan) – kick-off 1pm
November 25: USA (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor) – kick-off 7pm
November 29: Wales (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan) – kick-off 7pm
Pick your England starting XI for World Cup 2022
Gareth Southgate has unveiled his final pre-World Cup England squad – but who would make your starting XI?
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