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Toney handed England lifeline by Carsley who would watch him in Saudi

Interim England boss Lee Carsley refused to rule out a return to the squad for Ivan Toney despite the striker's big-money move to Saudi Arabia.

Toney moved to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli from Brentford in a £40m deal, bringing an end to his four-year stay in west London.

The 28-year-old featured for England at Euro 2024 but was not named in Carsley's squad for the Three Lions' Nations League fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.

However, Carsley will give Toney every chance to prove he is worthy of a call-up as long as he remains in charge.

'I was thinking about that to be honest,' Carsley said on Friday.


 'I think ultimately as an interim head coach I don't think I can rule anyone in or out. It would be really interesting to go out and see Ivan play and see the level and see the tempo and see the standard.

'We've got access to the games so I'll definitely be following his progression out there. It would be good to go and see an actual live game to get a feel of the atmosphere and the pace of the game because sometimes you don't quite get that on a video.

'So, yeah, he's definitely not ruled out. We have to be mindful... I've got a perception of the football out there but I've not been out there and seen it.

'So I think it would be reckless to rule somebody in or out so he's definitely not ruled out and yeah I would like to go and sample and see what the football's like out there.'

Despite Carsley's reassurance, some will point to Jordan Henderson's short-live Saudi adventure as a cautionary tale for Toney when it comes to an England return.

However, the 34-year-old lasted six months as Al-Ettifaq agreed a mutual termination of his deal prior to joining Dutch giants Ajax.

Toney has six caps for England and one goal, which was a penalty against Belgium in March


Toney will also be grateful Ronald Koeman is not England boss, after the Netherlands manager declared Steven Bergwijn his international career was all but done after moving to Saudi Arabia.

Bergwijn moved from Ajax to Al-Ittihad for £21m, a move that raised some eyebrows given the winger is only 26 years old.

However, Koeman was not a fan.

'The book is basically closed,' Koeman said on Tuesday.

'I think that when you're 26, the ambition should be sporting and not financial.'

Source: dailymail.co.uk

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