Brentford make major Ivan Toney decision amid Arsenal transfer links

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that Ivan Toney will not only start, but he will captain the Bees on his return to Premier League action this weekend. The Bees take on Nottingham Forest in what will be Toney's first appearance after eight months out.

Toney was suspended by the FA for gambling breaches, banned for eight months last March. The Forest game will be his first back in the top flight since then and it will be a special occasion.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Frank said: «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.»

There has been plenty of speculation surrounding Toney's immediate future, with both Arsenal and Chelsea linked with making a move to sign him during the January transfer window. The Gunners have been heavily linked with the frontman, although manager Mikel Arteta admitted signign a striker this motnh «did not look realistic».

Toney has never shied away from answering questions about his future and was even asked about it by Sky Sports this week. He said: «You can never predict when is the right time to move elsewhere, but I think it's obvious I want to play for a top club. Everybody wants to play for a top club, that is fighting for titles.

»Whether it's this January that is the right time for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows? But my main focus is to do what I do on the pitch, and let the background work take care of itself."

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Frank has already rebuffed any talk of Toney leaving the Gtech Community