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Ivan Toney says he never doubted his chances of returning to the squad of England, despite moving to the Saudi League Pro last year.
The AHLI striker was called by Gareth Southgate ahead of the three -lion World Cup classification against Andorra this Saturday.
The young man, 29, returns to the configuration of the national team for the first time since the loss of England in Spain in the final of the Euro 2024 last July.
Toney had been absent from international football after serving an eight -month suspension by 2023 for breaching gambling regulations.
After his departure from Brentford last summer, Toney signed the Saudi club in Ahli and quickly found his shape, placing 30 goals in 44 games in all competitions.
When asked Wednesday during the England training camp in Girona if the change in Saudi Arabia had jeopardized his international career, the striker responded: “No.
🗣 “It’s hard, it’s not easy!”
Ivan Toney of England says that the critic in the Saudi League Pro is unfair.#Bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/2i6qlwjftr
– Match of the day (@bbcmotd) June 5, 2025
“You see with me, I think if you are doing things right, playing football, playing well and setting goals: a work of a striker, this is what you are on a team to do, no matter where you play in the world, I feel that you still have to have the opportunity.
“I think it has shown me that I am back here and to return between the boys. It feels good to see the faces again and it is good to be hooked.”
Toney’s prolific production in Saudi Arabia was difficult to ignore. Only Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed him in the League during the 2024-25 campaign, with the 23 goals of Toney that wiped great names like Karim Benzema (21) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (19).
“I feel like I am in good shape. As you can see, I am here, I continue to set goals,” Toney added.
“So, I hope I can continue to do this and be in the mix for the World Cup.”
England will face Andorra in Spain on Saturday, before taking the Senegal in a friendly in Wembley on June 10.
