“You don’t really think four or five years down the line as a player but then as it got closer and closer to the World Cup, my chances became bigger and then finally sitting here now, you can see where my parents were coming from and why they had that belief in me, that one day I would have this opportunity.
“Here I am now, a step closer to hopefully being involved in the World Cup.”
Toney pledged to impress Southgate in the months between his ascent to the national team and the tournament in November, insisting it was “up to me”. However, Toney was left out of both Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany, a decision that resulted in Southgate receiving heavy criticism for not handing Toney a chance.
He will now be left to ponder whether to commit his future to England or switch his international allegiance, with Jamaica previously attempting to call him up in March this year.
