Uncapped Toney in England squad for Euro qualifiers

Last updated on .From the section England

England manager Gareth Southgate has picked uncapped striker Ivan Toney in the squad for this month's Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.

However, he is facing a potential ban from the game having accepted breaking Football Association betting rules.

England travel to Italy on 23 March and host Ukraine at Wembley on 26 March.

The matches will be England's first since they were knocked out by France in the World Cup quarter-final in December.

Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of five players picked for the tournament in Qatar who are not in Southgate's latest 25-man squad.

The others are defenders Conor Coady and Ben White, striker Callum Wilson and the injured Raheem Sterling.

Chelsea's right-back Reece James and left-back Ben Chilwell missed the World Cup through injury but return to the squad, along with Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

Toney was charged with 232 betting breaches in November and a further 30 in December, and a disciplinary hearing has yet to take place.

"He is playing for his club and available for them," said Southgate. "There hasn't been a trial or any judgement so I don't know on what basis we wouldn't pick him.

"Ivan has been consistent across the season. He is playing really well. I like his presence in games."

Toney was picked in the squad for England's Nations League qualifiers with Italy and Germany last year but did not play.

The forward has helped Brentford to eighth in the Premier League this season and scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with top-flight leaders Arsenal in February.

"I saw his game against Arsenal where he was outstanding and he deserves his opportunity," Southgate added.

"[I am] very proud and pleased and happy especially on behalf of Ivan," Brentford boss Frank said.

"I think he truly deserves it and I said to him in front of all the players this morning how pleased we are as a club, how happy we are and how well deserved it is.

"I want to give more credit to him, I want to give more credit to his closest family and friends because I think they have been the biggest support network."

Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker has been picked, despite Cheshire Police launching an investigation after a newspaper alleged he indecently exposed himself in a bar.

"It is a complicated situation, I have spoken at length with him," said Southgate.

"He is back playing with his club, there is no conclusive evidence to leave him out at this stage. I have to be careful on being the moral judge on things.

"We have had a couple of long conversations, we feel we want him with us, but we know when you're an England player there is an even higher bar on how you conduct yourselves and what is expected.

"We are not taking those decisions lightly."

Arsenal defender White returned home from the World Cup for personal reasons after the group stage.

On the omissions of White and Alexander-Arnold from his latest squad, Southgate said: "There are three boys that are in as right-backs, we've got them just ahead of those two.

"We're blessed in that position with a depth of talent and it's the hardest position to pick, albeit it's never straightforward criteria and it's always shifting around a little bit on form."
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