The timing matters. Toney had only recently forced his way back into the England conversation and, reports suggest, had re-entered the national-team picture during this summer’s World Cup.
That made his recall a live debate. Part of the discussion centred on the fact he now plays in Saudi Arabia, even after a season in which he reportedly scored 42 goals.
Toney’s career has rarely followed a straight line. He emerged from Northampton, signed for Newcastle in 2015, and spent time out on loan before his reputation truly accelerated at Peterborough. His rise into the top tier came with Brentford, where he scored 72 goals in 141 games, including 36 in the Premier League.
That run turned him from a lower-league scorer into an international option.
For Toney, the immediate issue is no longer selection, form or club momentum. It is the legal process. Until that hearing arrives, every conversation about his future will sit alongside this case - and that means the next big date is not a fixture, but September 24 in Westminster.