Graham Ruthven: Ivan Toney deserves an England call-up and a chance to make the World Cup squad

Only Erling Haaland and Aleksandar Mitrovic have scored more Premier League goals than Ivan Toney this season. If the 26-year-old wasn’t already on Gareth Southgate’s radar for an England call-up this month, he surely is after netting a hat-trick in Brentford’s 5-2 demolition of Leeds United. Toney was their wrecking ball.

Toney has found the back of the net five times in just six league appearances this season, yet this still doesn’t fully illustrate his threat as one of the most effective centre forwards in the Premier League right now. The 26-year-old possesses a combination of technical and physical attributes that make him the perfect frontman for the modern game.

England could use a striker like Toney as an option in their squad. Southgate has Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany later this month, not to mention a World Cup, to plan for and the Brentford goalscorer deserves a chance to prove he should be a part of the national team set-up.

Of course, Harry Kane is well-established as England’s first-choice number nine with the 29-year-old a good bet to end his career as the top goalscorer in Three Lions history. Tammy Abraham is also proven at the top level in Italy where he has scored 28 goals in 58 games since joining Roma last year, while Marcus Rashford has rediscovered his form for Manchester United in recent matches.

However, Toney would give England a different dimension in so many different ways. He is capable of running the channels, but is also comfortable acting as a targetman and holding up play for teammates around him to join in. He is dangerous in the air, but technically sound with the ball at his feet. Plus, he’s a threat from set pieces, as demonstrated by his strike in the win over Leeds. His penalty record isn’t bad either – 18 from 18 over the course of his career.

“It’s a nightmare to play against him,” Brentford manager Thomas Frank said. “Also I have said many times he is the best penalty taker in the world, and hopefully I wont get bored saying it. The free-kick? Wow! I said to him if you want to take them you have to practice. It was a classic Ivan goal, fantastic technique. Then last one is just ridiculous, to dink it over the keeper and pull that finish out of the hat.”

Toney reached double figures in his maiden Premier League season last term (Toney made two substitute appearances for Newcastle United in the Premier League in 2015/16, but only played a total of 10 minutes), scoring 12 goals in 33 appearances. On the basis of what we have seen this season, though, Toney has taken another step up in his performances. His scoring output this term could reflect this.

The 2022 World Cup is just over 10 weeks away and Southgate has a lot to consider before England travel to Qatar. He has decisions to make about his central defenders, with Harry Maguire’s lack of game time for Manchester United a particular concern, and his central midfield unit – could England use Declan Rice as a one-man anchor to free up a place for a more attack-minded midfield creator?

Southgate is surely comfortable with the strength of England’s attacking ranks, but Toney could give the Three Lions the qualities needed to round out their squad. If Toney has indeed taken another step up, he should be given the opportunity to prove it can take him as high as the international level.