Toney nets hat trick in friendly as ban nears end

Toney nets hat trick in friendly as ban nears end

Ivan Toney took another step in preparation for his return from a eight month suspension for gambling, scoring a hat trick in a behind-closed-doors friendly for Brentford B’s against Southampton under-23s on Saturday.

Toney’s ban from all football-related activities — handed to him after being charged with 262 betting offences last year — ends on Jan. 17.

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The easing of the ban rules saw him return to training with the first-team after four months in September last year and permitted him to play in behind-closed-doors friendlies. He got on the scoresheet in his on-field debut in a friendly against Como in October.