Brentford striker Ivan Toney says he's "assisting the Football Association with their enquiries" after it was alleged that he was being investigated for gambling on football.
The FA, which prohibits players from betting on the sport, is claimed to be looking into the 26-year-old's bets from before he joined the Premier League club in August 2020. While the FA declined to comment in response to a report from The Mail, Brentford confirmed in a statement: "We note the story concerning Ivan Toney and the FA investigation. The club will not be commenting."
In September, Toney received an England call-up for the first time by manager Gareth Southgate ahead of the Three Lions' Nations League double-header against Italy and Germany. Although he went uncapped in the latest round of fixtures before the World Cup, the former Newcastle forward remains hopeful of going to Qatar later this month.
Toney released a statement on Twitter which read: "I'm aware of a story about me in a national newspaper today. I have been assisting the Football Association with their enquiries and will not be making any comment until such investigation has reached its conclusion. I am a proud Englishman and it has always been my childhood dream to play for my country at a World Cup finals."
Southgate will name his 26-man squad next Thursday before England kick off their campaign in Qatar on Monday, November 21 with a clash versus Iran. With eight goals in 13 games this season, Toney had been tipped among the candidates to be selected.
The Northampton-born star has enjoyed an inspirational rise to the Premier League after being sold by Newcastle in 2018, when Peterborough acquired his services. After scoring 49 goals in 94 appearances for the Posh, Brentford shelled out an initial £5million to sign him two years ago in a deal potentially rising to £10m.
Toney spectacularly fired the Bees to promotion to the Premier League during his first season, bagging 31 goals over the course of a stellar campaign, then a Championship record. His 12 strikes last term helped Brentford maintain their top-flight status, while also registering a handy five assists.
A series of loan spells with clubs in League One whilst still on Newcastle's books helped motivate Toney to reach the top of English football, as he explained following his first international call-up. "I've always had the mindset, that I'm a League One player but the mindset is Premier League. If you manifest it you always have a big chance of doing it," he affirmed.
"When I was at loan here, there and everywhere I always had the mindset that one day I will be a Premier League player, and now that I am a Premier League player and an England international. I think from a young age, I believed in myself, I believed in my ability."
