Gareth Southgate has offered support to Ivan Toney, saying that he still has a chance of making England’s squad for Euro 2024, and has questioned why the striker’s eight-month ban for a breach of FA betting rules does not allow him to train with Brentford.
Toney, who made his England debut against Ukraine in March, will not be able to play again until January 2024. His ban will end five months before the Euros begin in Germany.
But Southgate, who has not called up Raheem Sterling for England’s qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, will keep the forward in his thoughts and he has challenged the FA on the terms of the ban. The former Peterborough striker must train alone until September but he is injured at the moment. Southgate, who has handed Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze a first call-up, believes Toney’s rehabilitation could suffer as a result.
“The ban is the ban,” England’s manager said. “It is what it is. I think he recognised and accepted the punishment. What bothers me is we’ve got to look after people. He’s injured at the moment – what does he do about getting fit? How do we give him some structure over the next few months that he can develop himself or be a better person at the end of it or have experiences that he might not experience?
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Sam Johnstone. Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Lewis Dunk, Marc Guéhi, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker. Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, James Maddison, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice. Forwards: Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Callum Wilson.
“I don’t like the idea that we just leave somebody so they are not allowed to be a part of the football community. I don’t think that’s how we should work, I don’t think that’s how the best rehabilitation programmes would work. But he knows that we picked him because we felt until there was a charge, he should be allowed to play.
“When he comes back, if he plays well then we’ll pick him. It won’t have any bearing but I think he’ll have additional motivation through what he is experiencing. I think he is a resilient guy with great character and we are here to support.”
Southgate insisted that Toney can go to the Euros. “Without a doubt,” he said. “It is not ideal because he is going to miss a large chunk of the season and you don’t know after that sort of period out how physically he is going to adapt and how he is going to play. But it is possible for him. There would still be time.”
Sterling was omitted after holding talks with Southgate over his physical condition. The winger has struggled on and off the pitch since joining Chelsea last summer and the decision has been taken for him to use the international break as a chance to rest before pre-season. Southgate held an honest conversation with the winger and a mutual decision was taken for the 28-year-old to miss the games against Malta and North Macedonia.
There is a first call-up for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze as reward for a fine end to the season. Eze, who is also eligible to play for Nigeria, has sparkled in midfield for Palace and has long been on Southgate’s radar. Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has returned, with Chelsea’s Reece James injured, but there is no place for Arsenal’s Ben White.
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The Newcastle striker Callum Wilson has replaced Brentford’s Ivan Toney, who is serving an eight-month ban for a breach of FA betting rules. And the Palace goalkeeper, Sam Johnstone, comes in for Newcastle’s Nick Pope.
For Sterling, representing England has always been a major priority and he remains part of Southgate’s long-term plans. The Chelsea winger is one of England’s senior players and he has an excellent record at international level. However Sterling, who missed England’s qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine with a minor injury problem, has endured a disappointing campaign since leaving Manchester City for £47.5m last summer.
His form for Chelsea has been inconsistent and he has had a series of niggling injury issues. He also had to deal with the emotion of flying home from England’s World Cup camp in Qatar following a burglary at his Surrey home. Sterling was left concerned about his family and the incident, coupled with the travel to and from Qatar, took a heavy toll on him physically and mentally.
Equally Sterling’s absence will raise questions over his place in the pecking order with England. He lost his place in the starting XI during the World Cup and Southgate has plenty of attacking options.
