Ivan Toney says he never doubted his chances of going back to the England team, despite the move of the Saudi Pro League last year.
Al Ahli’s striker was called by Gareth Southgate before the qualification of the Three Lions World Cup against Andorra this Saturday.
The 29 -year -old is back in the configuration of the national team for the first time since the defeat of England against Spain in the final of Euro 2024 last July.
Toney had been absent from international football after serving an eight -month suspension in 2023 for breaking the Paris regulations.
After his departure from Brentford last summer, Toney signed for the Saudi club Al Ahli and quickly found his form, scoring 30 goals in 44 games all competitions.
When asked on Wednesday during the training camp in England to Girona if the transition to Saudi Arabia had put his international career in danger, the attacker replied: “No.
🗣 “It’s difficult, it’s not easy!”
England Ivan Toney says that the criticism of the Saudi Pro League is unfair.#Bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/2i6qlwjftr
– Day match (@bbcmotd) June 5, 2025
“You see with me, I think if you do the right thing, play football, playing well and marking objectives – the work of an attacker is what you are in a team to do – no matter where you play in the world, I have the impression that you should always have the opportunity.
“I think it proved to me that I am back here and that I am back among the boys. It feels good to review the faces and it feels good to get stuck. ”
The prolific production of Toney in Saudi Arabia was difficult to ignore. Only Cristiano Ronaldo dominated him in the league during the 2024-25 campaign, the 23 goals of Toney ahead of big names like Karim Benzema (21) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (19).
“I feel like I am in good shape. As you can see, I’m here, I’m still scoring goals,” added Toney.
“So, I hope I can continue to do this and be in the mixture for the World Cup.”
England will face Andorra in Spain on Saturday, before taking Senegal in a friendly match in Wembley on June 10.
