Ivan Toney has been sidelined since May after being banned for breaching FA betting rules, but the striker is set to return to Brentford training from next Monday
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Five talking points as the Premier League returns
Thomas Frank is relishing Ivan Toney’s imminent return to training, having been away from the squad since his ban from football.
Toney was handed an eight-month ban for 232 breaches of FA betting rules, a ban which also meant he could not take part in training sessions. The striker will be allowed back into the Brentford group for sessions from next Monday onwards.
The Bees have created a bespoke 16-week fitness regime for the England international to prepare him to return to playing in January. And Frank is certain that Toney’s return to training will help to boost the rest of his squad amid an unbeaten start to the new season.
“He’s very happy to be allowed back into football — to be around team-mates that he loves. No doubt it will give us a lift. He hasn’t trained or played a team session, so we of course need to adapt him a bit,” Frank said.
“We have made a plan for him for the next 16 weeks and that will change once we get closer to when he can play in the team. We will try to work on his strength and other development areas. He’s training hard.
“It’s longer than a six-week pre-season, so there is time. He knows that we want the best for him, and that we are there for him. I’m massively proud of Ivan. The resilience he’s shown throughout his life, he should be an example for a lot of footballers.
Ivan Toney will return to Brentford training on Monday (
Image:
Clive Rose/Getty Images)
“It’s very good to have him back, he’s a very good player but more importantly a person to have around the group. He’s vibrant, definitely, and he’ll give us a lift. We’d prefer to have him in the team, but that’s not possible.”
The Bees brought in Neal Maupay from Everton in the summer window as cover for Toney’s absence. The attacker is still yet to feature though, with Frank hinting he will again not play a role in the clash with Newcastle this weekend.
“He played games for Everton, he was fit, and he played in a behind-closed-doors game for us and scored, so he’s in a good place. He’s training well,” the Brentford boss said when asked about Maupay’s absence.
“[Newcastle] have done very well, they had a fantastic season last year. Eddie Howe and his coaching staff have done a top job - qualifying for the Champions League is fantastic in many ways. I think it was fully deserved.
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“I don’t think they have got the results they will have wanted in the first four games and I’ve watched all four games through and they were very tight; they could have easily got more out of them than they did.
“They are a very dynamic, physical, high-intensity team and they’re good at set-pieces as well - they’re a very difficult team to play against. And we know that St James’ Park is one of the best home grounds - maybe the best. It’s a game we are looking forward to.”
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