Ivan Toney: Brentford striker announces 'I'm back' with goal on return as Thomas Frank hails 'man for big occasion'

Ivan Toney scored just 19 minutes into his comeback as Brentford beat Nottingham Forest 3-2; striker had been absent since May due to gambling ban; Toney's goal from free-kick was allowed to stand despite him moving the ball and vanishing spray before scoring

Saturday 20 January 2024 20:45, UK

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Ivan Toney announced «I'm back» after marking his return with a goal in Brentford's thrilling 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest.

Toney started up front and wore the captain's armband for the Bees as they hosted Forest in a game between two sides hovering above the relegation zone on Saturday evening.

It was the striker's first appearance since May after completing his gambling ban, and he took just 19 minutes to find the net, bending in a low free-kick as Brentford went on to claim a crucial 3-2 win.

Speaking to Sky Sports after being named player of the match, Toney revealed he had been able to «manifest» his role in Brentford's victory, saying: «It means a lot. I'm just buzzing to be back, scoring goals for the team.

»I manifest things like this. Before I left my house, I thought, 'we're winning today and I'm scoring'.

«I'm grateful to be back. I missed it so much. I'm back.»

Toney's free-kick found the net after he moved the ball — and the vanishing spray applied by the referee to mark where the set-piece should have been taken from — when the official's back was turned.

Brentford 3-2 Nottingham Forest — Report and highlights

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FA rules state free-kicks must be «taken from the place where the offence occurred» but the 27-year-old's actions appeared to go unnoticed by the officials,