Odds say Ivan Toney to return with a bang

Eight months after he last kicked a football in anger, following being found guilty of 232 breaches of the Football Association’s gambling rules, Ivan Toney returned to the pitch over the weekend with a banging hat trick for Brentford’s B team.

Toney was initially suspended for 11 month, but the ban was reduced to eight months following a diagnosis of gambling addiction by a psychiatric expert — the conclusion being Toney needed help.

As he runs out for his second Brentford debut, whether at Wolves in the FA Cup replay next Tuesday, or at home next weekend against Forest, Toney will do so wearing a Brentford kit sporting a giant logo on his chest of their shirt sponsors — Hollywood Bets.

Does football understand the damage gambling addiction can cause? I wouldn’t bet on it.