MANAGER Thomas Frank has confirmed Ivan Toney will not play for Brentford against Saints this weekend.

Toney has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United over the past week but has yet to secure a move away from the Bees with just one day of the transfer window remaining.

However, the Saudi transfer window will still be open giving Brentford more time to cash in on the striker, who is in the final year of his contract and could walk away for nothing next summer.

“I can say that Ivan will not play on Saturday,” said Bees boss Frank at his pre-match press conference.

“I can say I’m very happy to speak about the players who played last night (against Colchester) or the players who will play tomorrow.

“Ivan is training well, and in good spirits, and I’m happy to (answer) more questions about Ivan the next time we are sitting here.”

Toney, 28, has not played for the Bees so far this season and was left out of the England squad named on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Bees defender Aaron Hickey has suffered a major injury setback which will rule him out for most of the season.

The Scotland full-back was close to a return to fitness having been sidelined since last October with a hamstring injury which also ruled him out of Euro 2024.

But Hickey, 22, suffered another hamstring injury in training last week which has required surgery.

Bees physio Nick Stubbings told the club website: “The procedure involved the removal of the previous repair sutures and making a new tendon repair.

“Now we aim to start afresh and help Aaron return to his previous level of health and performance.”