245 days and 25 Brentford games after receiving an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules, striker Ivan Toney is set to play at least some part in the Bees' Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest this Saturday.
With Thomas Frank currently without the injured Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade, as well as Africa Cup of Nations participant Yoane Wissa, the England international's return to action - which was eagerly anticipated anyway - is perhaps even more welcome given the current holes in Brentford's attacking options.
In keeping with the smart and pragmatic approach that has characterised the west London club in recent times, Brentford have adapted well in Toney's absence - his sidekick Mbeumo notably stepping up this season with 10 goal involvements (seven goals and three assists) prior to his ankle injury in December.
DR Congo forward Wissa has also weighed in with four goals and acted as a focal point for Brentford attacks without Toney's considerable presence to aim at.
However, the third-highest scorer in last season's Premier League has been badly missed by the Bees and this article hopes to highlight exactly what the imposing forward will bring back to the table for the remainder of the current campaign.
The obvious place to start is with Toney's undoubted goalscoring pedigree.
Since joining the Bees from Peterborough in 2020, Toney has plundered 68 goals in 124 games across all competitions, winning the Championship Golden Boot as Brentford won promotion to the Premier League in his maiden season in red and white.
Toney's primary strengths were evident from those very early days at Gtech Community Stadium - his physicality and aggression ensuring he finished with more headed goals (six) and more goals from inside the six-yard box (eight) than any player in the second tier that season.
As an aerially dominant team with an incredible output from set-pieces, Toney was arguably the perfect forward to lead the line for Brentford, with his ability to ruffle even the most composed defenders' feathers a key string to his bow.
What was also readily apparent in Toney's epic first season with Brentford was that the Bees’ astute recruitment department had landed one of the best penalty takers in the business.
A flawless 100 per cent conversion rate from the spot saw the rugged forward score 11 penalties in the Championship in 2020/21 and he has continued to excel from 12 yards out; Newcastle United’s Nick Pope the only goalkeeper to save an Ivan Toney penalty (24 scored, one missed) going all the way back to 2018.
Pummelling the Championship and thriving in the Premier League are very different things, however, and there were question marks ahead of the 2021/22 campaign regarding how Toney would adapt to the top flight.
There was no looking back for the Northampton-born striker after he scored his first-ever Premier League goal against Villa in August 2021 and he finished the 2021/22 season with a dozen goals to his name and a creditable five assists - Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo notably the only player to score more match-winning goals than Toney in the top tier that season.
Which brings us to last season - when Toney rifled home 20 goals to trail just record-breaker Erling Haaland (36) and Harry Kane (30) in the Premier League goal charts.
Last term, the Bees were almost in a league of their own when it came to the threat they posed from set-pieces, no team netting more goals from dead-ball situations than the Bees (23, joint-top with champions Man City), and Toney was absolutely central to their success.
In total, 13 of Toney's Premier League goals last season came from dead balls (seven from set-pieces and six from penalties) and Saturday's opponents Forest will know they need to switch on from corners and free-kicks with the striker no doubt looking to make up for lost time.
As Nuno Espírito Santo’s side will also be aware, however, Toney offers much more than a goal threat. As the 21 assists he has provided during his Brentford career attest, the centre-forward is arguably the best target man currently operating in the Premier League and his ability to offer an out ball, link play and create chances is certain to make Brentford a more dangerous outfit right away.
Toney's stand-out performance last season, and arguably the definitive display of his career so far, came last November against eventual champions Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.
The term 'unplayable' is often bandied about, but that day Brentford's no.17 was worthy of it. Up against a team destined to win a historic treble, Toney proved too hot to handle and put his side in front inside 20 minutes with a looping header after beating Aymeric Laporte to the ball.
Phil Foden equalised with an exquisite half-volley, but Toney had the final word - his desire to score goals never more apparent than when he caught up a lung-bursting counter in the 98th minute to apply the final touch to Josh Dasilva's cross and seal a 2-1 win.
Toney's showing against City was that of a player delivering against the best on the big stage.
Forced to wait in the wings since last May, Brentford fans will hope their star striker can quickly recapture such form to help fire them up the Premier League.