Ivan Toney is nearing the end of his ban (Picture: Getty)
Ivan Toney says his only focus right now is on repaying Brentford’s faith in him as he prepares to make his return to football following an eight-month gambling ban.
Toney has been sidelined since May after he admitted to 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules but is now just days away from a return, which could come against Nottingham Forest on January 20.
His return comes in the middle of a vital January transfer window for the club, with Thomas Frank hoping to hold onto his prized asset despite long-standing interest from Arsenal and Chelsea.
Brentford have reportedly put a £100million price tag on the striker, who scored 20 goals in the Premier League last season, but Toney insists his sole focus is on giving back to the club and Frank after the support given to him during his hiatus.
‘Thomas Frank has been nothing but the biggest help I could have asked for – the whole club has,’ the striker said, speaking with Sky Sports and the Daily Mirror.
‘From putting on extra sessions for me, from taking their time out to put a session on and go outside when it’s raining when they’re not supposed to be in.
‘I have a lot to repay them and I can’t wait to try and do that.’
The striker’s return will be a welcome boost for struggling Brentford (Picture: Getty)
He continued: ‘The fans were also behind me. Even when I wasn’t at their games, they were singing my name.
‘A friend of mine sent me a video of the fans singing my name, I got goosebumps to know that they’re still behind me, even though I’m not there.’
Toney returns to the first team at a vital time for the Bees, with the club just four points outside the relegation zone after just one win in their last eight league games.
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Bryan Mbuemo’s injury, which will see the forward out until March, has compounded the side’s woes and left them short of attacking options
But Toney, who registered a hat-trick for Brentford in a behind-closed-doors game last week, believes his return can provide the spark to lift them away from the drop.
‘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,’ he added. ‘I can’t wait to get back and be helping my team-mates.
‘Everybody at Brentford knows I will do my best to try and get the club out of the sticky patch we’re in.’
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