England manager Gareth Southgate has shown support for Brentford striker Ivan Toney after he was handed an eight-month ban for breaching FA betting rules.
The 27-year-old was also fined £50,000 and will not return to action until January 2024.
Toney’s absence also means he will not be able to take part in England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia next month.
Toney is currently nursing a hamstring injury and Southgate stated it was important to look after the former Northampton player as he has to remain in the football community rather than be isolated because of the offence he is being punished for.
“I have spoken with him. I don’t know if that’s allowed by the way, but if it isn’t then they can ban me and not add to his,” Southgate said at the naming of his squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.
“The ban is the ban. He’s recognised and accepted the punishment. What bothers me is we’ve got to look after people.
“He’s injured at the moment, what does he do about getting fit? How do we give him some structure over the next few months so that he can develop himself or be a better person at the end of it or have experiences that he might not experience?
“I don’t like the idea we just leave somebody, that they’re not allowed to be part of the football community. I don’t think that’s how we should work, how the best rehabilitation programmes work.
“He knows that we picked him because we felt until there was a charge he should be allowed to play. When he comes back, if he plays well, then we’ll pick him.
“It won’t have any bearing but I think he’ll have additional motivation through what he is experiencing. He’s a resilient guy with great character and we’re here to support him.”
Southgate also stated that Toney could be picked for the Euro 2024 tournament but it will be dependent on how well he can be in shape before the competition proper kicks off in Germany.
“Without a doubt,” Southgate continued. “It’s not ideal because he’s going to miss a large chunk of the season and you don’t know after that sort of period out, how physically he’s going to adapt and how he’s going to play.
“But it’s possible for him, there would still be time. He’s really impressed us with the way he’s played. I like his personality, his belief and the way he goes about his job. Everything is still possible for him.”
Toney was first called up to the England team during a UEFA Nations League match with Germany last September. He failed to make the Three Lions squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and earned his first cap in a 2-0 win over Ukraine in the Euro 2024 qualifiers in March, coming on in the final nine minutes at Wembley.
