Nottingham Forest sent Ivan Toney warning message ahead of Brentford return

Brentford’s Ivan Toney

Brentford striker Ivan Toney says he is “hungry” to repay the faith shown in him as he prepares to make his return against Nottingham Forest.

The 27-year-old is coming to the end of an eight-month ban for breaching Football Association betting rules. His ban expires next Wednesday (January 17), meaning he is available to face the Reds a few days later, on the Saturday.

Forest’s clash with the Bees was rearranged to incorporate the winter break. Had the original date of this Saturday (January 13) stood, Toney would not have been in contention to play.

Should he feature against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side at the Gtech Community Stadium, it would be his first first-team appearance since last May. With his team a point and a place below the Reds in the Premier League table, the forward is keen to make his mark.

“I’m hungry. Hungry and excited,” he told the Daily Mirror. “Being out for so long, especially when you don’t have an injury (is hard). I’m hungry to get back on the pitch and do what I enjoy doing.

“It’s always unfinished business when you haven’t been playing for a while. It’s in your head. It’s like, I can’t wait to get back and do what everybody’s not expecting me to.

“I know that there are a lot of people thinking: ‘Can he do this, or can he do that?’, or ‘How’s he gonna be when he gets back?’ I know what I’m capable of, so I guess when I get onto the pitch I’ll just do what I do best.”

Toney has been linked with a move away from the Bees this month. But he says he wants to repay Brentford and manager Thomas Frank for sticking by him during a tough time.

“The club was right behind me from the first bit. The fans were behind me, which was a massive part,” Toney said when speaking to Sky Sports in the joint interview.

“Everyone knows Brentford is a family club, they have been nothing but amazing for me. I can’t thank them enough, especially the fans. They were behind me from the first minute as well. So it’s kind of like I have a lot to repay.

“With Brentford, they’re struggling at the moment but I’m sure when I’m back I will play a big part to get them out of the losing form they’ve been in. I can’t wait to get back and be helping my teammates.

“It’s not pressure, it’s just excitement to get back on the pitch. Everybody at Brentford knows I will do my best to try and get the club out of the sticky patch we’re in.

“But there’s no pressure and even if there was, I wouldn’t feel it and that’s what drives me forward. Brentford, we’ve been here before and we know how to get out of it.”

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