Ivan Toney took his tally to eight goals for the season with a clincial double against Brighton. The 26-year-old was called up to the England squad for the recent Nations League games against Italy and Germany but didn't make an appearance.
But Southgate couldn't have failed to be impressed with the Brentford striker's continued run of good form which has coincided with build-up to the biggest tournament of them all.
10 matches
— Witball Stats 🎩⚽📊 (@Witball_Stats) October 15, 2022
8 goals
2 assists
Is Ivan Toney the most underrated player in the league? pic.twitter.com/uLmksQJXJR
"I'm ready to go," Ivan Toney said after his Brighton brace. "Everyone's talking about England. I was disappointed not to get on last time but you've got to keep working. I just keep doing what I do best – score goals and do well for the team.
"With England you are playing with the best of the best. Without being big-headed I didn't feel out of place. I felt I was ready for that step and whenever it comes along, I'm ready.
"I'm just trying to do the best I can for the team and if it's enough to get on the plane to the World Cup then so be it. All I can do is do my job and then hopefully it is enough. If I get to the World Cup then hopefully I'll get some minutes there."
"It's up to Gareth to choose but Ivan has something special not many have," Brentford manager Thomas Frank added. "It would be a big thing if he got the first cap, that would be amazing. It would be the first time in 80 years for this club.
🔴 “100 appearances and 54 goals!”
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) October 15, 2022
👀 “Since the start of last season, Ivan Toney has managed to score 20 #PL goals.”
🤨 “Only outscored by: Son, Kane and Salah…stats alone, surely he’s a given!” @NatalieSawyer urges Gareth Southgate to look at Ivan Toney’s #BFC stats! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zRRokOOgah
"I am biased but I think he is a perfect fit for the squad if you want that flexibility for the squad."
While Sky Sports double-act Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville were full of praise for Ivan Toney after the Brighton game and backed him to go to Qatar next month.
Neville said: 'They've got a lot of players England that can play either side of Harry Kane, but they don't have a lot of centre-forwards. We're talking about an area of the team that isn't the most blessed.
"I think Ivan Toney is someone who if he can keep in form in the next couple of weeks, he will be in with a great chance of going."
We've done some number crunching to see how Toney stacks up against his direct competitors for a plane ticket to Qatar.
Goals
Harry Kane – 9
Ivan Toney – 8
Marcus Rashford – 3
Tammy Abraham – 2
Ollie Watkins – 1
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 0
Take Ivan Toney to the World Cup.
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) October 14, 2022
Thanks.
pic.twitter.com/xLOcf7dtVY
Assists
Ivan Toney – 2
Marcus Rashford – 2
Ollie Watkins – 2
Tammy Abraham – 1
Harry Kane – 1
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 0
Minutes per goal
Harry Kane – 98.7
Ivan Toney – 112.5
Marcus Rashford – 230.0
Tammy Abraham – 355.5
Ollie Watkins – 834.0
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – N/A
Minutes per goal or assist
Harry Kane – 88.9
Ivan Toney – 90.0
Marcus Rashford – 138.0
Tammy Abraham – 237.0
Ollie Watkins – 278.0
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – N/A
Ivan Toney is yet to miss a penalty for Brentford.
— Haryo_dheji (@Iamdherjavu) October 14, 2022
That's a ridiculous stats 👍
Chances created per 90 minutes
Harry Kane – 2.0
Tammy Abraham – 1.5
Ivan Toney – 1.3
Marcus Rashford – 1.2
Ollie Watkins – 0.8
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 0