Ivan Toney to captain Brentford on return from eight-month suspension

Thomas Frank confirmed Ivan Toney will captain Brentford against Nottingham Forest on Saturday in his first game back after his eight-month suspension.

The 27-year-old has not played competitively since being banned in May for breaching Football Association gambling rules.

He was permitted to return to training with his team-mates in September and has played in a number of behind-closed-doors friendlies in the run-up to becoming available again.

With the team dealing with a number of absences both through injury and international call-ups, Frank said Toney will wear the armband against Forest, with regular skipper Christian Norgaard amongst those missing.

The manager said he is confident that Toney is ready to play 90 minutes despite having been out for 259 days.

“He’s buzzing,” said Frank. “He’s like an eight-year-old boy that just wants to go out and play maybe his first football game. That pure joy of playing football.

“I’m looking into the eyes of a player that is very committed, very excited and can’t wait.

“He will start tomorrow and he will also lead the team out of the tunnel as the captain.

I’m pretty sure he’s ready.“

Thomas Frank confirms Ivan Toney’s @premierleague return tomorrow