And when he was called up by 12 months ago for the first time, he angered the German manager with his poor work rate during training so it seemed we would not be seeing him ever again.
Ivan Toney is in the England squad for the World Cup Credit: Getty
Thomas Tuchel recalled the striker despite a previous row between the pair Credit: Reuters
So the fact that the striker is in the squad for the forthcoming World Cup is , although Toney claims he is now in a “better headspace”.
The former Newcastle and Peterborough forward was then handed an eight-month ban and during the suspension, he let rip at the FA.
He said: “I feel like yes, I’m banned now but the biggest punishment for me was missing out on playing at the World Cup.
“I felt more hurt and down around that time. I felt like somebody is out to get me at that time to stop me from playing for England.
“In my head, that’s how I saw it at the time.
“They want to punish me for this — missing out on England, the World Cup, it is everybody’s dream to be playing at the World Cup — and then further down the line, ban me as well. It was like a double hit.”
returned to football from his ban in January 2024 and he was soon back in action for England, scoring his first goal against Belgium, two months later.
Toney has insisted he is in a better headspace now Credit: Getty
Yet he featured in , and set up Jude Bellingham for his stunning bicycle kick against Slovakia, keeping the Three Lions in the tournament.
He appeared in the final against but then did not play for the Three Lions again until last June when he was an 88th-minute sub against in Nottingham after failing to impress Tuchel at a training camp in Spain.
Toney, now 30, has only returned to the national team after clear-the-air talks with Tuchel.
Speaking to ITV Sport, Toney said: “Like the coach said, we spoke, we cleared the air, we cleared things and I’m in a lot better headspace than I was back then.
“I’m a lot more confident and I feel like I do belong here. I am prepared to help the team in any situation.”
Asked if he is a better player than the one who went to the Euros in Germany, Toney said: “Yes, for sure, my numbers speak for themselves.
“In the league 32, 33. In total? Forty-two, so not too bad.”
It did seem that Toney had ruined his chances by taking the cash – £20million a year tax-free – and moving to Saudi Arabia.
Toney has scored 42 goals this season Credit: Getty And without doubt, the level of football is not as good as it is in the Premier League,
Asked whether some players have to go backwards to go forwards, he said: “Oh, I’ve definitely done that plenty of times plenty of times. Barnsley, Shrewsbury, Wigan, Scunthorpe, Peterborough, Northampton, everywhere.
“That has given me self-belief, resilience, an edge.”
Oh yes. Toney certainly does not lack self-belief. It is difficult to think of many players who indeed have that self-belief quite like Toney. Others might suggest it was arrogance.
So, did the lad who started out at Northampton always think he would make a World Cup?
He said: “I think it was always in your mind, you know. You watch the World Cup and think ‘I wanna be involved in that’. If you manifest it, you always have a big chance of doing it.
“I think the younger me would be like ‘enjoy it’. Really, the hunger within me and what I can bring to the team is a lot.
“I’m grateful to represent my country and if the coach wants me to be a finisher, then finisher it is. That’s what I’m here to do, win the game and help the team.
“Whenever I step onto the pitch I have the belief that I can make something happen.”
So did he do that at the last tournament? He added: “Yes, 100 per cent.
“When I did come onto the pitch, there was one minute left and I was feeling there was gonna be a big chance and it dropped to Jude and we progressed in the tournament
“If you believe something is gonna happen you speak it into existence, you know
“I manifested that and we progressed to the final.”
So can England do the same here in North America?
As you would expect, Toney said: “We manifest we are going all the way. We have to manifest that we are winning games.
“If you start two games late, it’s too late.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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