Ivan Toney hits back at England axe in message to fans
Ivan Toney has hit back at the news that he has been left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad.
Ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia next month, Tuchel named his England selections on Friday, 29 August.
The Three Lions squad includes the uncapped duo Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence, who have starred for Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, respectively.
However, Tuchel’s latest England picks did not include striker Toney, who has scored one goal in three appearances for Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ahli this season.
Ivan Toney hits back after being left out of England squad
During the most recent international break, Toney endured a lack of game time under Tuchel, featuring for a total of just two minutes in matches against Andorra and Senegal in June.
This time around, the former Brentford hotshot has been left out of the England squad altogether, and will not feature in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Amid his omission from Tuchel’s selections, Toney took to Instagram on 29 August to write: “What you lose is never bigger than what you gain”, seemingly making reference to his Three Lions snub.
Ivan Toney set for uphill battle to make World Cup squad
Tuchel indicated that Toney does not hold a high place in his pecking order when he was an unused substitute in the 1-0 win over Andorra in June.
| Ivan Toney stats | All competitions 2025/26 |
| Appearances | 3 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
Meanwhile, the 29-year-old was given little time to influence the game as England suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of Senegal at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground.
The Three Lions boast other talented attackers at their disposal, such as record scorer Harry Kane, Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins, and Barcelona new boy Marcus Rashford.
Kane, Watkins, and Rashford all compete in more prestigious leagues than Toney, so if they can enjoy strong seasons, the former Brentford man may not be able to find a way back into Tuchel’s favour.
However, if England struggle in their World Cup qualifiers in September, and Toney continues performing well in Saudi Arabia, he could have a chance of representing his nation once again come October.
In all likelihood, though, the 29-year-old will remain behind the likes of Watkins in the Three Lions pecking order.