Euro 2024 qualifiers: Ivan Toney in England squad for games against Italy and Ukraine

Euro 2024 qualifiers: Ivan Toney in England squad for games against Italy and Ukraine
_129007521_hi082397751.jpgIvan Toney has scored 16 Premier League goals so far for Brentford this season

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

Brentford's Toney, 27, is the second-highest English goalscorer in the Premier League this season with 16 goals, behind Tottenham's Harry Kane.

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 at the quarter-final stage of the 2022 World Cup 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, while striker Callum Wilson and the injured Raheem Sterling also miss out.

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 has helped Brentford to eighth in the Premier League and scored an equaliser for the Bees 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.

England squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Maddison (Leicester City), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham)

Forwards: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford)

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