Ivan Toney says he wants to "put on a show" as he returns to first-team football following the conclusion of his eight-month ban for betting.
Toney's ban ended on 17 January, meaning he is available for the match against Nottingham Forest this Saturday in what could be his first Premier League appearance since a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on 6 May 2023.
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"I feel like a free man. A massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders," Toney said in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports.
"I can't wait to get back to enjoying playing football again this Saturday. It's a big day today but an even bigger day on Saturday.
"I can't change what's happened. What's done is done. Hopefully I can now put on a show.
"My whole family knows what the weekends are about - they travel down to watch me play football. Missing that for eight months is painful.
"It's painful for me knowing I've ruined their weekend. I can't wait to repay them in the next games, pick up where I left off and get the goals back under my belt and give them something to be happy about.
"It's obvious I want to play for a top club, if a club was to pay the right money then who knows" 🔉
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 17, 2024
Brentford striker Ivan Toney on the speculation around his future at the club 🔴 pic.twitter.com/9ljSkkde1I
"I believe you will see [the real Ivan Toney] straight away. I'd like to think it will be there straight away as I've been playing well behind closed doors, training well.
"I feel I can pick up where I left off. I've got nothing to prove to anybody but just to myself I want to focus on starting right and scoring goals sooner rather than later."
Addressing speculation
In recent weeks Toney has been subject to transfer speculation, with both Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly keen on acquiring his services.
And while his manager, Thomas Frank, said it would take an "unbelievable price" to sell Toney, the striker has not ruled out leaving the club in January.
"You can never predict when is the right time to move elsewhere, but I think it's obvious I want to play for a top club," Toney said.
"Everybody wants to play for a top club, that is fighting for titles. Whether it's this January that is the right time to be for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows?
"But my main focus is to do what I do on the pitch, and let the background work take care of itself."
How Brentford will be boosted by Toney’s return
Toney's return is a welcome one for Brentford, after their recent form has seen them slide down the league table.
They have lost seven of their last eight Premier League matches and are only three points above 18th-placed Luton Town.
