Ivan Toney: Brentford Star Sends Cryptic Message to Gareth Southgate After Bagging Brace Against Man City

• Ivan Toney unleashed a cryptic celebration days after being left out of England's squad for the World Cup
• Toney was on target twice against Manchester City and he celebrated by shutting his ears in what many believe was a message to Gareth Southgate
• The 26-year-old was among the possible striker Southgate could have called on, but the England boss settled on Callum Wilson as his number two

Brentford striker Ivan Toney sent a cryptic reaction to England national team boss Gareth Southgate after he was dropped from the World Cup squad.

Toney was omitted from Southgate's final 26-man squad, with Newcastle striker Callum Wilson preferred instead of him.

Questions had been asked about who would deputize the obvious starter and team captain Harry Kane. Toney was called up during the September UEFA Nations League qualifiers and confidence was high that he would make it to the Qatar travelling party.

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He was, however, dropped in favour of Wilson, who has also had an outstanding start to the season with the Magpies.

Toney scored twice against Manchester City in Saturday's early kickoff and fans have interpreted his 'cold 'celebration as a message to Southgate. The striker looped his header past Ederson and then celebrated by shutting his ears.

He then finished off a late counter-attack to bag maximum points for his side after Phil Foden had drawn the champions level before halftime.

First away win

His brace ensured Brentford got their first away victory in the Premier League this season.

The celebration is Toney's trademark whenever he finds the back of the net, but this time around, fans have construed it for the message to Southgate.

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Sports Brief had earlier reported that Ivan Toney would surely be extremely devastated after missing out on Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup.

Southgate announced his 26-man squad on Thursday, November 10, just months after Toney revealed his family predicted he would be in the World Cup.

At the time, the Brentford striker was enjoying a hot streak in form and was heavily tipped to become Harry Kane’s backup in Qatar. The England manager decided to go with Kane, Marcus Rashford and Callum Wilson as the go-to players for goals for The Three Lions, leaving no room for Toney.