Brentford boss Thomas Frank has hailed the returning Ivan Toney as the ‘second best striker’ in the Premier League.
Toney is available to feature as Brentford take on Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this weekend, after serving an eight-month suspension for breaching gambling rules.
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The 27-year-old scored 20 goals in the Premier League last season and his return represents a huge boost to a Brentford team who have lost their last five league fixtures.
Only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane outscored Toney in the top flight last season and with Kane having departed the division, Frank believes the returning Toney has few equals.
“He is a special character in many ways, he’s a fantastic person to be around myself, the staff, the players, the energy he brings, the smile, the positivity, every day at the training ground,” Frank said on the forward at his pre-match press conference.
“On the pitch he wants to win, he wants to help the team, of course it’s a massive boost. It’s like a new signing. He’s the second best striker in my opinion in the Premier League. Unbelievable commitment, he wants to go out there and help the team win.”
Toney has been linked with a move away from Brentford this month with a number of Premier League rivals reportedly interested. However, Frank insists the forward remains committed to the club.
“As I said earlier in these conferences, it’s 99% something, that he will stay here but football is crazy, you never know what will happen tomorrow. He’s committed to helping the team, that’s all that’s on his mind he wants to stay here, he wants to help the team. No none at all [offers].
“In any partnership, you don’t owe but are committed to each other, we’re committed to him, he’s committed to us.”
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