Gareth Southgate does not believe Ivan Toney’s imminent hearing into alleged betting offences should prevent the Brentford striker from being handed an England recall tomorrow.
Southgate names his first squad since the World Cup at St George’s Park on Tuesday ahead of next week’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.
Toney narrowly missed out on the squad for Qatar but is among the names Southgate has considered for his latest party following a string of impressive performances.
However, there has been question marks over whether Toney’s forthcoming disciplinary trial in relation to gambling breaches would preclude his selection for the squad.
But it is understood Southgate fears that not selecting Toney on that basis would be tantamount to pre-judging the Bees striker as guilty.
As Sportsmail exclusively revealed earlier this month Toney has already admitted to multiple breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules and is facing a lengthy ban.
Because, however, the case has not been concluded, Southgate views the process as active and feels any non-selection of Toney due to the investigation would presume guilt.
The 26-year-old has scored five goals in nine games since Qatar and a total of 16 for the season with his all-round performances earning rave reviews putting Toney firmly back on Southgate’s radar.
And Southgate has based his decision over Toney on his performances since the domestic football returned after the World Cup.
The striker was handed his first England call-up in September, but didn’t play in either of the team’s matches against Italy and Germany.
News of the FA’s decision to charge Toney over alleged betting breaches broke on November 16, six days after Southgate dropped him from the World Cup squad.
In 2020, Kieran Trippier continued to be selected by Southgate despite having his own betting case to contend with.
The right-back was under an FA investigation in relation to betting patterns surrounding his move from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid in 2019. Trippier was eventually banned for 10 weeks and fined £70,000.
In October 2020, Southgate even gave Trippier permission to leave the England to attend the FA hearing linked to his case.
Elsewhere, Southgate faces a dilemma at centre-back amid continued concerns over Harry Maguire’s lack of action at Manchester United.
Similarly, Conor Coady has lost his place in the Everton team and could be at risk. Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi will come into contention if Coady or Maguire drop out.
Chelsea central defender Levi Colwill – currently on loan at Brighton – is liked by Southgate but hasn’t played since January due to injury but is fit again.
Reece James and Ben Chilwell, who both missed the World Cup through injury, are both hopeful of returning provided FA medical staff are assured of their fitness.
Kyle Walker is available for selection despite a police investigation into an incident at pub earlier this month.
Uncapped Morgan Gibbs-White and Solly March have also impressed England scouts in recent months.
Ben White left England’s squad in Qatar due to ‘personal problems’ and it remains to be seen whether he is selected.