Why Tuchel wanted Toney back in England pictureImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ivan Toney has played only seven minutes of international football since Euro 2024BySteve SutcliffeBBC Sport journalistPublished24 minutes agoBy the time the England World Cup squad was officially revealed on Friday morning there had been more plot twists than an Agatha Christie novel. While the likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire had that feeling of a rug being pulled out from under them, Ivan Toney represents one of manager Thomas Tuchel’s big reveals. The 30-year-old Al-Ahli forward has not featured for England for almost 12 months since making his only appearance under the German – and that was as an 88th-minute substitute in a defeat by Senegal at the City Ground. So having been left out of the past four squads, why has Tuchel decided to bring the forward back in from the international wilderness?The former Brentford striker was part of Gareth Southgate’s squad at Euro 2024, when England lost in the final to Spain.And he is expected to play a similar role this time, as a back-up to Harry Kane, with all three of his appearances in that tournament coming as a late substitute when England were chasing the game.He also showcased his formidable penalty-taking qualities in the last eight, scoring from the spot in the shootout victory over Switzerland, when he found the net without looking at the ball as he stared down the keeper.Toney’s record of 36 goals in 85 Premier League games equates to almost a goal every other game and he has been even more prolific in the Saudi Pro League, where he has plundered 55 goals in 62 matches over two seasons. For context, Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 53 times in 60 appearances in the same competition.”[It was] also a bit of a surprise to us [his inclusion],” reported Tuchel. “When it came down to all different kinds of scenarios he was back in the picture.”I had fantastic feedback from his club coach, who was my player, and I have a close connection with him, always fantastic feedback about his role there, about his ability, his fitness.”‘Tuchel’s gambles and iron conviction position him as the anti-Southgate’
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