With a possible suspension looming for apparently breaching multiple gambling rules, Ivan Toney has been called up by England for their European Championship qualifiers as a reward for being the third-leading scorer in the Premier League.

It is the second time the Brentford striker has been summoned by England. The first was ahead of Nations League qualifiers in September but he didn’t get on the field and failed to make the squad for the World Cup a few weeks later.

Toney has scored 16 league goals for Brentford this season — only Erling Haaland and England striker Harry Kane have more — but his future is clouded after being charged with a total of 262 breaches of the Football Association’s gambling laws, dating back to 2017.

Sections of the British media reported this month that Toney has admitted to the majority of the breaches and was facing a lengthy spell out of the game.

That led to Toney criticising the FA about the process behind his impending disciplinary hearing and over what he perceives to be potential lapses of confidentiality as he prepares to argue his case.

The issue hasn’t stopped England coach Gareth Southgate from selecting Toney as one of six forwards in a 25-man squad ahead of Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.

“The fact is he is playing for his club and playing well for his club, there hasn’t been a trial as yet or any judgement so I don’t know on what basis we wouldn’t pick him,” Southgate said.

“Before the World Cup, Callum Wilson had a brilliant run of form, hit form just at the right time but he has had a little bit of an injury which has inhibited his performance in the last few weeks.

“Ivan has been consistent across the season. As soon as we announced the (World Cup) squad he had a brilliant game at Manchester City which was typical.

“But he is playing really well, I like his presence in games. He deserves his opportunity.”

They are England’s first games since the national team lost to France the World Cup quarter-finals in December.