Ivan Toney claims he “never doubted” his England opportunity would come, with the Brentford striker vowing to seize his chance to make the World Cup.
A product of the Northampton youth set-up, Toney spent loan stints at Barnsley, Shrewsbury, Scunthorpe and Wigan having failed to make the breakthrough at Newcastle United.
He left St James’ Park permanently for Peterborough in 2018 and a goal-laden spell there saw him join Brentford two years later – a move that has gone better than either party could have dreamt of as he stands to become the club’s first England international since Leslie Smith in 1939.
The 26-year-old helped the Bees to promotion in his first campaign and five league goals at the start of this season led Gareth Southgate to include the uncapped frontman in England’s final camp before Qatar.
“It’s so surreal to be sitting here in an England top,” said Toney, who was still playing in League One just over two years ago.
“It’s such a privilege and it’s massive for me and my family, and also my club.
“I think nobody’s been called up [from Brentford] since 1939 or something like that, so it’s a big achievement and I’m very proud of it and hopefully I can make the most of it.”
Asked if he could have foreseen playing for England during his time the Football League, he said: “Never doubted it. I feel like I had full confidence in myself.
“I feel like you’ve just got to keep working hard and it makes it that much sweeter when you do get the chance.
“I never played for any of the other age groups, so going straight to the senior squad is a big achievement and I’m very proud of it. I wouldn’t have wanted it to go any other way.”
Toney could have been representing Jamaica had things played out differently 18 months ago – a time when the striker’s focus on Brentford’s play-off hopes meant he put his international future on the back burner.
That talk “kind of fizzled out” as his dreams of representing England increased following promotion, leading to a potentially timely run to the line given the World Cup looms large in November.
“This is my opportunity now,” Toney said. “I’ve got to take it with both hands and I’m excited. I’m confident for it and very hungry.
“I’ve been working for this moment and here it is now, so I’m not going to let it go by me by any means.
“So, I’m going to take it with both hands and hopefully I can make the most of this opportunity I have.”
Toney will hope to make his international debut in the Nations League matches against Italy or Germany and deliver a special moment for his friends and family.
“The sacrifices my mum has made, and my dad and my sisters – everybody around me from the early stages,” Toney said.
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HOW ENGLAND QUALIFIED FOR WORLD CUP 2022: (Group I) March 25, 2021. England 5 (Ward Prowse 14', Calvert-Lewin 21', 53', Sterling 31', Watkins 83'): England began their qualification campaign by brushing aside San Marino at Wembley with substitute Ollie Watkins scoring on his debut. Manager Gareth Southgate said: "Of course, it's an opponent we should beat, but I thought they went about the job really well." Reuters -
March 28, 2021. Albania 0 England 2 (Kane 38', Mount 63'): Two out of two for Southgate's men who stretched their unbeaten run in World Cup qualifiers to 23 games after Harry Kane scored one and supplied the other. Southgate said: "We had opportunities to make it three and should have killed the game off. I didn’t like the way we managed the game in the last 15 minutes, charging forwards when we didn’t need to." Reuters -
March 31, 2021. England 2 (Kane pen 19', Maguire 85') Poland 1 (Moder 58'): England overcame a dreadful error from defender John Stones that led to Poland - who were without Robert Lewandowski up front - scoring to make it three wins out of three. Southgate said: "We need to play top opponents and you could see tonight we still have a lot of improvements to make. That’s not anything I didn’t know." Reuters -
September 2, 2021. Hungary 0 England 4 (Sterling 55', Kane 63', Maguire 69', Rice 87'): Impressive England destroyed Hungary with four second-half goals in Budapest in a match where England players had objects thrown at them while some players suffered racist abuse from the home crowd. Southgate said: "We showed great maturity and kept the ball well. The attacking play was really exciting in the second half and we could have had more." Reuters -
September 5, 2021. England 4 (Lingard 18', 78', Kane pen 72'), Saka 85') Andorra 0: Three late goals made it five wins out of five for England, who made 11 changes from the side that won 4-0 in Hungary. Southgate said: "It was difficult for the players picked who didn't have as much games together. You have to keep moving the ball, keep being patient. It wasn't an easy task." AFP -
September 8, 2021. Poland 1 (Szymanski 90+2') England 1 (Kane 72'). An injury-time leveller ended England's 100 per cent record but still found themselves four points clear at the top of Group I with four games left. Southgate said: "It was no surprise that this was the hardest game in the group. Early in the game, we were a little slow to move the ball ... in the second half we controlled the game." AFP -
October 9, 2021. Andorra 0 England 5 (Chilwell 17', Saka 40', Abraham 59', Ward-Prowse 79', Grealish 86'): A stroll for England against a country ranked 156th in the world. Manchester City forward Phil Foden was the star of the show as Jack Grealish scored his first England goal. Grealish said: "In the back of my mind there has been that feeling that I've just wanted to score, just to get off the mark. Obviously I've done that tonight, I'm delighted." Reuters -
October 12, 2021. England 1 (Stones 37') Hungary 1 (Sallai pen 24'): A stumble in England's quest for Qatar as Southgate's side produced a disjointed display at Wembley with an out-of-form Harry Kane taken off despite the Three Lions still searching for a winner. Southgate said: "I don't think we played at the level we have done and Hungary defended very well. We didn't do enough to win the game." EPA -
November 12, 2021. England 5 (Maguire 9', Kane 18', 33', 45'+1), Henderson (28') Albania 0: Harry Kane was back in the scoring groove, hitting a hat-trick that left England needing only a point from their final qualifier in San Marino to qualify. Southgate said: "The first-half performance in the main was outstanding. Harry gave a fantastic centre-forward's performance ... I thought his all-round game was excellent." Getty -
November 15, 2021. San Marino 0 England 10 (Maguire 6', Fabbri og 15'), Kane pen 27', 31', pen 39', 42'), Smith Rowe 58', Mings 69', Abraham 78', Saka 79'): England reached double figures for the first time since 1964 and secured their spot in Qatar. Southgate said: "We gave a performance that was enjoyable for the supporters that travelled, was clinical in the way we went about it, and then showed some exciting young players coming through." Reuters
“My sister went to uni, she used to take me to football and do her uni work while she’s waiting for me and then take me home, while my dad and my mum were working.
“My mum played a massive part, making me dinner and making sure I was eating and not her.
“She played her part massively and also my dad taking me everywhere in the country, whether it be to trials here or there. My other sister came to football all the time and the fact everybody has played their part makes it a bit sweeter here now in an England top representing my country.
“It’s not just me who has done this. Everybody around me has played a massive part and I can’t thank them enough really.”
Toney’s dad, also Ivan, was “bibbing the horn for ages” in celebration of his son’s first call-up, with mum Lisa screaming down the phone she normally sends words of encouragement on.
“She messages me before every game, ‘be a beast on the pitch, put your body around, be a presence on the pitch’ – and I have certainly done that,” Toney added.
“They say to leave the ref alone because I like to get in their ear and give them a bit.
“They have all played their part and helped me to become the player I am today and I just can’t thank them enough. This is a massive step in my career now.”
