Ivan Toney has shared with Soccer AM (14/11/20 at 10:40 am) about his first training session with Newcastle and how it was a ‘different level’.
In 2015, Newcastle signed the highly-rated striker from League Two side Northampton Town, but he struggled to make a name for himself and was sold to Peterborough three years later.
He has since wrecked havoc in England’s lower leagues and his goals for the Posh in League One now see him playing for promotion hopefuls Brentford in the Championship.
Even though Toney found life tough at Newcastle initially, he shared that the ‘crazy’ experience soon became comfortable because of his nature.
“It was crazy and it was a big jump,” said Toney. “I think going from League Two to the Premier League, it’s always going to be a big difference.
“Even the intensity of the training. If you lose the ball nine times out of ten, it’s a goal. I remember my first session, I am running around and I am out of breath thinking ‘this is different level’.
“But the kind of person I am and how I take things in my stride I adapted quite quick I feel.”
It could be argued that Newcastle could do with a player of Toney’s quality in their forward line even though Callum Wilson has done bits for them since his summer move from Bournemouth.
But, thereafter, the depth in quality isn’t as strong and with Toney scoring 10 league goals in 11 games this season, he is potentially working his way back up to the top.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Toney is a Premier League player during these coming seasons, whether he earns promotion with the Bees or they sell him to a top club as they have done with Neal Maupay and Ollie Watkins in recent seasons.
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