Brentford striker Ivan Toney is expected to be named in England’s squad for the first time ahead of the September internationals.
The 26-year-old is yet to represent the Three Lions in any capacity, having been a relatively late bloomer at the highest level, but is set to be rewarded for a terrific start to the 2022/23 Premier League season.
Toney has scored five goals and contributed two assists in six outings to date, following on from a strong first season in the Premier League that saw him bag 12 goals for Brentford – helping them stay up in the process – and set up a further five.
Captain Harry Kane remains England’s primary striking option, but the debate of who his understudy will be has continued to rage on – Roma’s Tammy Abraham the player called up by Gareth Southgate for his last international squad back in June.
England play Italy and Germany in September, both in Nations League A games, and face the very real possibility of being relegated from the top tier after a miserable run of results in their opening four matches.
A humiliating defeat to Hungary was the real low point for Southgate’s side, who need to bounce back and build confidence ahead of this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.
They have been paired in Group B with the United States, Iran and Wales, and will look to build on their impressive showings at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020 – when they reached the semi-finals and final respectively.
