Ivan Toney is set to make his Premier League return with Brentford in a London derby… with the striker banned for eight months for gambling offences
Ivan Toney’s first Premier League game back for Brentford after an eight-month suspension will be a tricky away fixture in a London derby.
The England capped striker was banned from all footballing activities for eight months after admitting a number of gambling charges while in the professional game.
He missed the last fixtures of the 2022-23 season, and the ban extends across the summer break and deep into next season – with his return in January.
With the winter break in the same month, and FA Cup third and fourth round fixtures taking up weekends too, his Premier League return will come with Brentford’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur, currently projected for Tuesday the 30th of January 2024 at 7.45pm.
As always with top-flight fixtures, they are subject to change, and there is likely to be particular attention paid to Toney’s return in a Bees shirt following his suspension.
Ivan Toney is set to make his Premier League return for Brentford in a London derby away day
The striker scored Brentford’s second goal against Tottenham Hotspur on Boxing Day 2022
The striker scored Brentford’s second goal in a 2-2 home draw against Spurs on Boxing Day – although the visitors clawed it back to get a point.
Brentford’s 3-1 win in the reverse game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in May is one of the fixtures which Toney was forced to miss after the punishment was handed down by The FA.
Toney said it was ‘spiteful’ that news about his rule-breaking was released ahead of the 2022 World Cup – denying the striker an opportunity to feature for England in Qatar.
He did eventually make his national team debut at Wembley in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine which the hosts won.
Thomas Frank’s Brentford begin the season with their home game against Tottenham, and also finish the season at home against Newcastle United.
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