Darren Bent has told talkSPORT that Ivan Toney deserves to make his England debut next month, as the summer Arsenal and West Ham United transfer target has been brilliant.
Gareth Southgate will announce his squad for the Three Lions’ next World Cup qualifiers on Thursday afternoon. England visit Andorra on October 9 before facing Hungary at Wembley three-days later looking to extend their Group I lead.
Toney has never represented England at any level throughout his career so far. Yet stands a chance of a senior breakthrough with the Three Lions’ alternative options enduring mixed starts to the term. While he has scored twice and assisted twice for a newly-promoted side.
Toney has started all six of Brentford’s Premier League fixtures so far this term, after firing them to play-off glory. He offered Thomas Frank’s side 33 goals and 10 assists in 48 games, to warrant vast top-flight interest.
Arsenal and West Ham wanted Toney
Arsenal and West Ham were among the clubs that wanted to sign Toney had Brentford not secured promotion. That’s according to TEAMtalk, who noted several clubs made enquiries into the £30m striker’s availability. But a top-flight berth ultimately ruled out any transfers.
Toney has vastly impressed Bent since making the step up with the Bees, and the player-turned-pundit now believes Arsenal and West Ham’s summer target is ready for England.
“I think he has been absolutely brilliant. You start looking about [for] who’s playing better than him at this present time, and he’s English – nobody,” Bent said. “Harry Kane obviously started off slow and he’s going to play as England captain.
“Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been out injured, Danny Ings – hit with a dry spell – [Ollie] Watkins has done okay. But, for me, Ivan Toney has got a couple of goals and his all-round play, in terms of the way he kind of bullied Liverpool, as well.
“Good battle between him and [Virgil] Van Dijk. I think he deserves it, I really do.”
Is Toney ready for England?
Bent is not alone in praising Toney, as Arsenal and West Ham’s summer target also stunned Steve McManaman with how he battled Van Dijk on Friday. Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard has also noted comparisons between Toney and Chelsea icon Didier Drogba.
Jamie Vardy and Michail Antonio are also the only English strikers with more top-flight goals than the Bees’ £5m signing. Both have hit five goals in six games to Toney’s two, while Antonio has also offered three assists. But Antonio has pledged his allegiance to Jamaica, while Vardy has semi-retired and will only play internationally amid an injury crisis.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
