Ivan Toney, aged 27, is set to lead Brentford as captain in the upcoming Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
This eagerly awaited return follows an eight-month suspension for the striker.
Manager Thomas Frank, whose team has found itself embroiled in the relegation battle during Toney’s absence, expressed the significant positive impact of having him back.
Frank highlighted the value of Toney’s goal-scoring prowess and leadership on the field.
“He’s bossing. He’s like an eight-year-old boy; he just wants to go out and play,” Frank told a news conference on Friday. “Just that pure joy of playing football.
“I’m looking into the eyes of a player who is very committed and very excited. He will start tomorrow, he will lead the team out, he’ll be the captain. I’m sure he’ll be ready.”
Having scored 20 goals in 30 league appearances last season, Toney faced a suspension due to betting offences. His return, eagerly awaited by Brentford teammates who affectionately call him ‘Big Dog,’ is timely.
Brentford currently sits in 16th place, just three points clear of the relegation zone and trailing 15th-placed Forest by a single point.
“Not only this week, but the last three-and-a-half years, he has been a special character in many ways; he’s a fantastic person to be around myself, the staff, the players, the energy he brings, the smile, and the positivity at the training ground,” Frank said.
“On the pitch, he wants to win; he wants to help the team; of course, it’s a massive boost. It’s like a new signing. He’s the second-best striker, in my opinion, in the Premier League.”
One worry for Frank is that with the January transfer window still open, Toney could be lured away by a big-money offer from a Premier League rival, although none have arrived so far.
“As I said earlier in these conferences, it’s 99% something that he will stay here but football is crazy; you never know what will happen tomorrow,” Frank said.
“He’s committed to helping the team; that’s all that’s on his mind. He wants to stay here; he wants to help the team.”