Ivan Toney says he wants to repay Brentford by getting them out of a relegation battle during the second half of the season after the support the club showed him during his eight-month ban from football.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports and the Daily Mirror, Toney spoke in-depth about his time out of the game after serving his ban for 232 breaches of the FA's rules for betting on football.
The Brentford striker, who has been out since the middle of May, will return to the Premier League for their home game with Nottingham Forest on January 20, live on Sky Sports.
Toney will return back with speculation over his Brentford future - with the striker linked to both Arsenal and Chelsea - and question marks about whether he is the same player who scored 20 Premier League goals last season.
But the England international is confident he can help Brentford avoid relegation in the second half of the season and is capable of firing them to safety with goals.
"The club was right behind me from the first bit. The fans were behind me, which was a massive part," Toney said.
"Even when I wasn't at their games, they were singing my name. And I got loads of messages on social media. A friend of mine sent me a video of the fans singing my name, I got goosebumps to know that they're still behind me, even though I'm not there.
"Everyone knows Brentford is a family club, they have been nothing but amazing for me. I can't thank them enough, especially the fans. They were behind me from the first minute as well. So it's kind of like I have a lot to repay."
Toney will return with Brentford in 16th place, four points above the relegation zone and on a run of one win in nine matches in all competitions.
Brentford also have long-term injuries to
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