- Ivan Toney has not been included in an England squad since Euro 2024
- He is set to be recalled today for the first time since moving to Saudi Arabia
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Ivan Toney is reportedly set to be recalled by Thomas Tuchel for his latest England squad when it is announced later today.
Toney was part of the England squad that made the final of Euro 2024 under Gareth Southgate but has not been involved in the national team setup since.
This follows him leaving Brentford to join Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ahli last summer.
However, according to The Athletic, Toney will be named in Tuchel’s squad for next month’s matches against Andorra and Senegal.
In his first season in the Middle East, Toney has scored 29 goals in 43 appearances for Al-Ahli.
Despite these impressive numbers he may have felt his international career was over, but he is set to be handed the opportunity by Tuchel to add to his six caps.
Ivan Toney will be called up by England for the first time since moving to Saudi Arabia last year
Thomas Tuchel has recalled Toney despite the forward not playing in the Premier League for 12 months
Toney has six caps for England, but has not played for his country since the final of Euro 2024
The 29-year-old striker made three substitute appearances at last summer’s Euros, and famously set up Harry Kane for England’s winner in their last-16 clash with Slovakia.
He then netted a penalty in England’s shootout victory over Switzerland to book the Three Lions’ spot in the semi-finals.
Southgate also brought Toney off the bench in the closing stages of the final against Spain, but it proved too little too late as England were beaten 2-1 and fell short of tournament glory.
England captain Kane remains Tuchel’s first-choice striker, but Toney now has the opportunity to prove he is a worthy understudy.
He appears to be in a battle with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke to be the man to replace Kane if the skipper is rested or rotated by Tuchel.
Tuchel bringing Toney in from the wilderness may be viewed as controversial by some fans given he has not played in the Premier League for 12 months.
But the German boss has already shown in his short tenure that he is not afraid to make big calls, having brought Jordan Henderson back into the fold in March.
Henderson will turn 35 this summer and had seemed to be out of the picture after missing out on the Euros last year, but he was recalled by Tuchel due to his high standards and leadership qualities.
Tuchel is not afraid of making big calls, as shown by him bringing Jordan Henderson back into the fold in March
England won their first two games under Tuchel as they saw off Albania and Malta with minimal fuss, and they will be aiming to take one step closer to World Cup qualification when they face Andorra on June 7.
They then have a friendly against Senegal at the City Ground three days later, which could be the perfect opportunity to give Toney some game time to prove he still has plenty to offer on the international stage.
