BRENTFORD 3 Toney 19, Mee 58, Maupay 68
NOTT'M FOREST 2 Danilo 3, Wood 65
IVAN TONEY has spent the past eight months plastering his body in reflective tattoos to help forget his gambling ban hell.
Yet here on his long-awaited return to action at Brentford, the more significant words were not written in ink. They were emblazoned across his chest.
Welcome to English football's bizarre double standards.
A broken system that is happy to endorse gambling and claim its cash - but fall into trouble and you will be hung out to dry.
"I feel like a free man, declared a stone-faced Toney in midweek.
He has not been held captive, nor been imprisoned, but the heartfelt statement was a damning reflection of the crippling mental struggles he has endured on his long road to liberation.
Thankfully, there was a priceless, early and deserving moment of redemption via a smartly-crafted 19th-minute free-kick.
Toney's goalscoring powers have evidently not waned during his time away from the game.
Denne historien er fra January 21, 2024-utgaven av The Sunday Mirror.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 21, 2024-utgaven av The Sunday Mirror.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Triple threat
FARKE'S BOYS MAKE IT LOOK THR-EASY
LEFT HIS MARC
Guehi leveller piles pressure on winless O'Neil
FESTIVE ENVOI
'Unfinished business' plans for Boxing Day\
LIAM'S OASIS OF CALM
Garden room to enjoy Morning Glory.
Baked-in profit
Mary whips up a tasty £1.74m annual income
Covid briefing comedian Janey loses her cancer battle at 63
COMEDIAN Janey Godley passed away yesterday at the age of 63 after a long battle with cancer.
A REEL CHEEK
Water boss fishing in paradise as firm dumps sewage in UK waters
KEM ON DOWN
Historic win as Badenoch is first Black party leader
Glove and hate
THE polls could not be closer, or the differences greater, in the race to become the next US president.
Prince William: Africa has always held a special place in my heart
PRINCE William has told of the \"special place\" Africa has in his heart ahead of returning to the continent for his Earthshot Prize awards.