Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on Ivan Toney ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League match against Brentford.
The striker has recently made his return to action after completing an eight-month ban for breaching 232 of the FA’s betting rules.
With the Citizens set to travel to Brentford for their Monday night showdown, the City boss has been sharing his thoughts on Toney.
Guardiola wary of ‘extraordinary’ Toney
Speaking in his latest press conference ahead of Monday’s clash, Guardiola had this to say about the Bees striker and the threat he carries on the pitch.
He said: “He’s an exceptional player. Not just long balls, set pieces, penalties he is a guarantee, with free-kicks. For many things. They can link with him. He’s an extraordinary player.
“Happy he is back. Hopefully that period is forgotten for him and his life and his family. Exceptional players are always more than welcome in the Premier League.”
Last season saw the Englishman find the back of the net 20 times in 33 Premier League appearances, two of which came in Brentford’s 2-1 win over City at the Etihad Stadium back in November 2022.
Since making his return, the 27-year-old has scored a goal in each of Brentford’s two previous league games against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur.
This shows the hot form Toney has hit the ground running in and why Guardiola has been so complimentary about him as well as recognising the danger he could inflict on the Citizens.
It also shows why City’s defenders should be very wary of the striker and that they’ll need to be at their best to contain him and stop him from scoring.
However, with City having their own goalscoring threat in the shape of Erling Haaland back from injury, the Brentford players will have to be just as wary of him as the Citizens will be of Toney.
