Toney To Captain Brentford On First Game Back From Eight-Month Suspension
Ivan Toney will captain Brentford when he makes his return to competitive football against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Toney completed his eight-month ban from football for betting breaches this week and will be thrown straight into the starting eleven by manager Thomas Frank.
The Bees are missing a number of key players due to injuries and international commitments, with substantive captain Christian Norgaard and Bryan Mbuemo nursing fitness problems and Yoan Wissa on Africa Cup of Nations duty with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Toney, who scored 20 league goals in 33 games last season before his ban came into effect, has been building up his fitness with behind-closed-doors friendlies.
“He’s buzzing,” said manager Frank. “He’s like an eight-year-old boy that just wants to go out and play maybe his first football game. That pure joy of playing football.
“I’m looking into the eyes of a player that is very committed, very excited and can’t wait.
“I can break it now: he will start tomorrow and he will also lead the team out of the tunnel. He will be the captain because Christian is injured.
“I think he is ready (for 90 minutes). There will be extra adrenaline in him, extra excitement. He will run around like he’s never run around before.
“He is very fit, he’s played in-house games and played 90 minutes.”
Brentford are 16th on the Premier League table, just three points above the relegation zone.
