On the eve of Brentford’s first Premier League match in August 2021, Thomas Frank made a promise about Ivan Toney.

“He has received all the talents,” stated the Brentford supervisor. “His link-up play, his ending, timing within the field and consciousness, so I’m positive he’ll rating targets within the Premier League.”

The targets have actually been there. Twelve final season, 16 this time period with a dozen video games to spare.

Nevertheless it’s the link-up play that has been a key think about Brentford’s success this season. It prompted Jamie Carragher to explain him as “probably the greatest attacking gamers within the league”, “an all-round footballer” and “paying homage to Harry Kane”.

That final level is particularly poignant given England’s squad announcement on Thursday. Regardless of a betting scandal hanging over the Brentford striker, Gareth Southgate has determined that Toney can’t solely match into this England hanging division – however carry one thing a bit of additional as properly.

Frank sees it too. “In that space, Kane’s all-round play is such a excessive degree however Ivan’s is excessive as properly,” stated the Brentford supervisor after their 2-0 win at Southampton on Wednesday night time. So what makes Toney so related – however totally different – to Kane?

Hyperlink-up play however excels within the air

The link-up play is the apparent side of play the 2 England forwards share. A short take a look at their statistics and so they’re nearly equivalent. An analogous quantity of passes accomplished, touches of the ball and urgent statistics. All of it matches up.

However the place Toney excels over Kane is within the air. The Brentford striker has the fourth-most profitable aerial duel report of any Premier League participant this season.

It’s the purpose why Bees goalkeeper David Raya seems to be out for him so usually. When the ball is at his ft, the Spanish shot-stopper has tried to select Toney out 329 instances this season – in accordance with Second Spectrum. The following sought-after participant on Raya’s record is centre-back Ben Mee, who has been given the ball 169 instances.

This season, three out of Toney’s 4 assists – which is twice as many as Kane – have come from aerial duels. The most recent got here late at Southampton, flicking the ball onto Yoane Wissa to complete with a one-on-one.

Josh Dasilva scored the same aim from a Toney flick-on away at West Ham in December, whereas Bryan Mbeumo would have netted an opener away at Arsenal through the identical route had his aim not controversially been dominated out for a contentious foul on Gabriel.

Put merely, Toney’s aerial presence hurts defences. The Brentford striker received all 10 of his aerial duels in opposition to William Saliba in Brentford’s 1-1 draw at Arsenal.

“For those who put Ivan Toney in opposition to any defender within the league and you place 10 balls which are coming down with snow on them, he’s most likely going to beat them,” stated Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta a couple of days after the match.

Manchester United’s defence was one other sufferer of Toney’s aerial presence within the 4-0 drubbing at Brentford in August. Toney received aerial duels in opposition to Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez throughout a primary half when Brentford ran riot.

Martinez – who Frank admitted they focused within the sport – was taken off at half-time, a call that Toney described as “a praise for me”.

Set-piece prowess

Set-pieces are one other side the place Toney excels – and never simply together with his good penalties.

Lifeless-ball conditions are a key a part of Brentford’s sport – 4 out of their final seven targets in all competitions have come from set-pieces and Toney is the chief within the Bees’ pack, with the striker having the best Anticipated Objectives ratio from set-pieces within the Premier League this season.

Toney has 10 targets from 10 Premier League spot-kicks for Brentford, together with his unorthodox gradual run-up contributing to his flawless report. However it’s really from corners the place Toney has confirmed helpful.

Take Toney’s aim in opposition to Southampton for example. Mbeumo’s nook met Christian Norgaard on the entrance put up, leaving Toney with a tap-in on the again.

It isn’t the primary time the Brentford striker has scored from that mixture – the identical three gamers mixed in an equivalent routine in opposition to Tottenham on Boxing Day.

However what’s noticeable is that Kane has additionally benefitted from that routine too. The Spurs ahead scored that very same aim in opposition to Leeds, Newcastle and Chelsea this season, latching onto a front-post flick to faucet in on the far put up.

Free-kicks are additionally a set-piece state of affairs Toney can contribute to, which units him aside from Kane. The Brentford ahead scored from a direct free-kick in opposition to Leeds earlier within the season and hit the crossbar from the same effort in opposition to Fulham on Monday Evening Soccer.

On condition that set-pieces have been a key a part of Southgate’s success with England, Toney being included within the England squad provides one other string to the workforce’s bow on this and lots of different departments.