Thomas Frank does not believe Ivan Toney owes Brentford for sticking by him during his eight-month suspension – but he is confident the striker is committed to the club.
Toney makes his long-awaited return tomorrow against Nottingham Forest after serving his punishment for committing 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules, with Frank also confirming he will wear the captain’s armband.
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The 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and told Sky Sports yesterday he wants “to play for a top club that is fighting for titles. Whether it’s this January that is the right time for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows?”
Those comments suggest a possible lack of loyalty on the player’s part but Frank is adamant the England international is determined to help the Bees move away from the lower reaches of the Premier League table.
He said: “In any partnership, you don’t owe but are committed to each other, we’re committed to him, he’s committed to us.”
Brentford have yet to receive an offer for Toney and Frank is pretty certain he will remain with the club beyond the end of the January window.
The Dane added: “As I said earlier in these conferences, it’s 99-point-something per cent that he will stay here but football is crazy, you never know what will happen tomorrow.
“He’s committed to helping the team, that’s all that’s on his mind. He wants to stay here, he wants to help the team.”
“He will start tomorrow and he will also lead the team out of the tunnel as the captain.
I’m pretty sure he’s ready.“
Thomas Frank confirms Ivan Toney’s @premierleague return tomorrow ???? pic.twitter.com/5DYiktSQYC
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) January 19, 2024
Toney has not played since May and Frank says he is excited to be back.
“He’s buzzing. He’s like an eight-year-old boy, he just wants to go out and play,” he said.
“Just that pure joy of playing football. I’m looking into the eyes of a player who is very committed, very excited. He will start tomorrow, he will lead the team out, he’ll be the captain. I’m pretty sure he’ll be ready.
“It’s like a new signing. He’s the second best striker in my opinion in the Premier League. Unbelievable commitment, he wants to go out there and help the team win.”
