Dominic Solanke continues to stake his claim for a place in England's European Championship squad, but Bees boss Thomas Frank insists Ivan Toney should go instead

On another day, Dominic Solanke would have left the Vitality Stadium with a hat-trick and be on 21 goals heading into the final game of the season.

And yet, a towering header from the Bournemouth striker and a quiet day for his Brentford counterpart Ivan Toney did Solanke’s hopes of an international call no harm in front of England assistant Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

While Solanke is having his breakout season, drawing level with Ollie Watkins on 19 league goals, Toney has gone 11 without scoring.

It is not how he would have wanted to approach a Euros summer, yet Brentford boss Thomas Frank backed Toney to fend off Solanke and keep the England shirt he was handed in March. ‘I know I’m biased but I would pick Toney,’ he said. 

‘Going into the Euros, you need to be fit and performing at a good level and sometimes it just takes one moment and you are at your best.

‘Sometimes players are scoring a lot of goals but can’t perform in the Euros because they are exhausted. 

'There are a lot of aspects to consider but I would take Ivan because he adds something they don’t have in the squad.’