If Ivan Toney wasn’t already going to dominate the transfer headlines for the rest of the January transfer window, the Brentford striker certainly will now.
Toney returned from his long gambling suspension and took less than 20 minutes to get on the scoreboard. Handed the captain’s armband in a sign of respect from manager Thomas Frank, Toney used his right peg and bit of Nottingham Forest foolishness to make it 1-1 in front of an adoring Brentford Community Stadium.
[ MORE: Brentford vs Nottingham Forest recap, analysis, video highlights ]
Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner, the USMNT starter, was left out to dry as Toney moved his free kick spot a yard and spun the ball around Ryan Yates and inside the near post.
He’d later hit the ball off the underside of the bar around he half-hour mark.
Ivan Toney reaction: “I’m back, I’m back”
Brentford’s star striker was ready for the free kick. Mentally, he made it happen.
“I manifest things like this,” Toney said on NBC after the game. “Most of them go in the stands and the car park, but this one went in.”
He was buzzing.
“I’m glad to be among the lads, I missed it so much. I’m back, I’m back,” Toney said. “The adrenaline, hearing the fans scream, knowing you’re in a winning position. No better feeling.”
While his transfer future is up for discussion, Toney spoke about a blossoming partnership with match-winning goal scorer Neal Maupay, and what the win means to the Bees.
“We needed it, and we got it,” Toney said. “We worked hard. We’ve been grafting. The worst period has ended. I’m glad Neal [Maupay] got the winner. I’m sure we’ll score many goals together.”
Ivan Toney free kick goal (video) will pump volume on transfer buzz
So much time off can serve to dull a player’s sharpness, but Toney’s proven with this goal — and a hat trick during PL2 action — that he’s used his off-time well.
Arsenal and Chelsea are among the clubs that have been linked with the 27-year-old center forward, who did not pour cold water on exit talk this week when he acknowledged that he wants to play in the Champions League.
He’s also grateful to Brentford for sticking with him, so he may not leave in January. And Brentford doesn’t have any reason to force him out the door as his value may keep rising as he serves as focal point for an attack still missing Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.
Toney has 33 goals and nine assists in 69 Premier League appearances. It seems fairly likely that that record will join Saturday’s goal in increasing the callers to director of sport Phil Giles and his crew.
