Ivan Toney backed for England return as goal blitz continues

A tale of two strikers helped swing this game and there was no doubting the impact of Ivan Toney as Brentford manager Thomas Frank recommended him for an England return.

While Matheus Cunha, Wolves’ hat-trick hero from last week’s 4-2 victory at Chelsea, limped off after rolling his ankle, Toney stroked home Brentford’s second goal to make it three in four games since returning from his nine-month ban.

Toney has been capped just once by England so far, replacing Harry Kane last March to see out a 2-0 Wembley win against Ukraine in a Euro 2024 qualifier.

But the sought-after striker could cap a fairytale return since his punishment for breaching betting regulations when Gareth Southgate names his squad for the game against Brazil on March 23.

That Wembley friendly falls exactly a year since Toney’s only appearance in a Three Lions shirt.

“I know what Ivan can bring and I think it’s something different that England don’t have,” said Frank.

“Ivan played a fine game but strikers need to score goals. He scored again when he had to.

“He played with illness – he was ill on Thursday, Friday and today. It shows everything about his mentality. He is unique. He has always been committed.”

Frank revealed recently that Toney is set to become the latest player to be sold by Brentford at the end of the season.

But if the 27-year-old striker does leave, he looks like he wants to go out having maximised his impact.

“What Ivan is very good at is being in the moment, right now, here, ready,” added Frank. “That’s what he is focusing on.

“It would be great if he keeps going. He has all the qualities for it. We know we will create big chances for him.”

Victory halted a run of seven defeats in eight Premier League games for the Londoners. Yet despite their recent record, the result was rarely in doubt as Wolves failed to score at Molineux for the first time in a year – since Gary O’Neil’s Bournemouth won 1-0 last February.

Neal Maupay had already been denied three times by Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa before Brentford took the lead 10 minutes before half-time.

It was one to forget for Sa though as the Portuguese was nowhere to be seen as Christian Nørgaard headed home Sergio Reguilón’s inswinging corner from three yards out.

By then, Cunha had departed in the 20th minute after rolling his ankle. The Brazilian had one of Wolves’ two on-target attempts of the first half when goalkeeper Mark Flekken scrambled away his shot.

A Pedro Neto header went the same way, tipped onto the post.

Wolves’ best chance of an equaliser evaporated with a VAR decision in the 50th minute that ruled Craig Dawson’s planted left foot was marginally offside when he glanced home Neto’s cross.

Toney sealed it in the 77th minute, steering home Vitaly Janelt’s left-wing cross after more sloppiness from Wolves when Dawson’s poor pass to Tommy Doyle was intercepted.

“We were partly to blame for our own downfall,” said Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil.