'RECKLESS' ADMISSION SEES IVAN TONEY HANDED ENGLAND LIFELINE AFTER SAUDI TRANSFER

Ivan Toney has been thrown an England lifeline after his big money move to Saudi Arabia.‌

England interim boss Lee Carsley said it would be “reckless” to write off Toney’s chances and he intends to go out and watch him play for Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. Toney, who has signed a four year contract worth £57m, went to the Euros but did not make Carsley’s first squad and the 28-year-old’s England chances appear to have taken a huge blow.‌

Jordan Henderson lost his England place after moving to the Saudi Pro League while Holland boss Ronald Koeman unceremoniously dumped Steven Bergwijn from his squad because the ex-Spurs star went to the Middle East.

But Carsley says he will not close the door on the former Brentford striker even though Toney appears to have put money before ambition.

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Carsley said: “I was thinking about that to be honest. I think ultimately as an interim head coach I don’t think I can rule anyone in or out. It would be really interesting to go out and see Ivan play and see the level and see the tempo and see the standard.

“We’ve got access to the games so I’ll definitely be following his progression out there. It would be good to go and see an actual live game to get a feel of the atmosphere and the pace of the game because sometimes you don’t quite get that on a video.

“So, yeah, he’s definitely not ruled out. We have to be mindful…. I’ve got a perception of the football out there but I’ve not been out there and seen it.

“So I think it would be reckless to rule somebody in or out so he’s definitely not ruled out and yeah I would like to go and sample and see what the football’s like out there.”

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2024-09-07T06:44:08Z dg43tfdfdgfd