Ivan Toney has declared that he never feared his move to the Saudi Pro League would jeopardize his England career, and he's eager to prove his worth upon his return to the international stage.

The 29-year-old striker has earned a recall to the national team, marking his first inclusion since transferring from Brentford to Al-Ahli for a lucrative deal shortly after helping England reach the Euro 2024 final. Despite being overlooked by interim manager Lee Carsley in the previous autumn and initially excluded from Thomas Tuchel's first squad, the England boss clarified in March that his Saudi Pro League stint was not a factor in the decision.

Toney expressed gratitude for Tuchel's explanation and is even more appreciative of the recall for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Andorra and the friendly against Senegal.

"It's always tough missing out on a squad, but I think that's part of the game," Toney stated. "You have to be strong, you have to stick at it and keep doing what you do best and I managed to do that and I managed to get the recall, which was a nice feeling."

When questioned about whether he thought his move to Saudi Arabia could negatively impact his chances with England, he responded, "No." He further explained, "You see with me I think if you're just doing the right thing, playing football, playing well and scoring goals – a striker's job, that's what you're in a team to do – it doesn't matter where you play in the world, I feel like you should still get the chance."

Toney believes his return to the squad proves his point: "I think it's been proven me being me being back here and being back amongst the boys. It feels good to see the faces again and it feels good to get stuck in."

Toney acknowledged that the initial month following his transfer in August was "tough" but credited his previous loan spells for aiding his adaptation to the new environment in the Middle East.

Toney's move to Al-Ahli saw him join a growing list of prominent players in the Saudi Pro League, including Cristiano Ronaldo. While some have suggested that players moving to Saudi Arabia risk their international careers, Toney's recall, despite not being included in any of the three England squads since Euro 2024, is a landmark moment. It challenges the perception that players are solely motivated by money when making the switch. Some have suggested Toney's return to the England squad could be seen as a PR lift for the Saudi league.

Toney earned his first England cap on March 26, 2023, in a match against Ukraine and has six caps with one goal as of today. He was also part of England's squad for the Euro 2024, where he made three appearances, including scoring a penalty in the shootout win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals.