Brentford forward Ivan Toney took part and scored in a small-sided game in training on Thursday as he steps up his recovery from a hip injury.
Toney experienced discomfort during the warm-up before Brentford’s 0-0 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on April 3 but played the full 90 minutes. He was named on the bench for their 3-3 draw with Aston Villa three days later and only came on for the final 10 minutes. The 28-year-old was an unused substitute in a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United on April 13 and was dropped from the squad for their 5-1 win against Luton Town last Saturday. Head coach Thomas Frank said Toney would have played at Kenilworth Road “if it was a cup final”.
He has scored four goals in 13 appearances this season since returning from an eight-month suspension for breaching betting rules and is hoping to be named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for this summer’s European Championship in Germany.
Brentford face Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday evening and Toney could make a return.
“(He is) progressing,” Frank said. “I’ve got to hope he is available for Saturday. There is still one more training (session), so let’s see.
“Ivan just loves to play football. He wants to play and get out there. Every game he is missing he hates that. All footballers have that same feeling and then of course there is a Euros coming up which is important. But he is aware it’s important to be fit to perform so there’s plenty of games.”
Frank also provided an update on full-back Aaron Hickey. The 21-year-old is recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered in November in training, which required surgery, and is not expected to feature in the final four games of the season. Frank added Hickey’s chances of representing Scotland at the Euros are “not fantastic”.
GO DEEPER
To make it to the Euros, Ivan Toney has to make people forget about Ollie Watkins again
(Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
