Toney: 'I want to give my all in every game for Al Ahli'

News 7h 19m Ago

After a brace to secure Al Ahli’s place in the AFC Champions League Elite knockout stages, Ivan Toney has promised to build upon that to truly kick-start his career at the Jeddah club.

The England international, a marquee signing from Premier League side Brentford late in the summer transfer window, came off the bench on Monday to net twice in four minutes in Al Ahli's 2-1 triumph against Asian champions Al Ain.

The victory in the UAE made it five wins from five in the continent’s premier club competition for the Roshn Saudi League outfit, as they became the first team to book their place in the rebranded tournament's knockout rounds.

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The goals also snapped a five-match streak without Toney finding the net; the striker last scored in Matchweek 7 of the RSL, when he notched the second in the 3-0 win at Al Khaleej. From eight league appearances, he has three goals in all.

"The promise is that I want to give my all in every game," said Toney, who has six goals in 14 matches in all competitions since joining Al Ahli. "It's not been the best start by myself, but I know that; I understand that. I understand the pressure on my shoulders. I've been there before, and I've got through it - and I'm sure I'll do that this time."

Toney, a member of the England squad that finished runner-up at this summer’s UEFA European Championship, had not started the previous two matches for Al Ahli. He was named as a substitute for the Matchweek 10 win against Al Raed earlier this month, while he did not feature at all in last Friday’s 1-0 victory at Al Fayha.

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Asked about what instructions manager Matthias Jaissle gave him before returning to the pitch against Al Ain, Toney replied: "He just said to make a difference. It's been tough missing a few games, but you just use that as fuel and when you come on the pitch you have to prove a point. And, hopefully, I did that."

Toney, 28, will hope to be back in the starting line-up for Al Ahli on Friday, when the RSL's seventh-placed side entertain second-from-bottom Al Wehda.