After leaving Posh in a reported £10 million move to Championship side Brentford in the summer the classy all-round striker has scored 14 goals in 16 second tier games.
Toney, who started 77 times for Posh in two seasons after a £300k move from Newcastle United and rattled in 49 goals, is already being touted as a transfer target for Premier League clubs.
He wouldn’t be the first ex-Posh player to get to the top-flight. In the past the club has seen former players win international caps, Premier League titles, European competitions, play in World Cups and win the FA Cup.
Others have gone on to enjoy excellent careers with big clubs in big competitions and we recognise those players here.
The PT’s top 12 Posh achievers (in reverse order)...
5.
MATTHEW ETHERINGTON: Posh years; 1996-1999. Posh apps: 58. The youngest player in Posh’s Football League history after playing at Brentford in the final game of the 1996-97 season at Brentford aged 15. ‘Mushy’ was sold along with Simon Davies to Spurs over the Christmas period of 1999 for a combined fee of £1.2 million. He was only 18. The left-winger started just 20 Premier League games for Spurs, but his career blossomed brilliantly following a move to London rivals West Ham United in 2003. Etherington helped the club into the Premier League during a six-year stay which ended just short of 200 appearances when Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola allowed him to join Stoke City for £2 million. Etherington played well for Stoke in the top flight and started the 2011 FA Cup Final which was lost 1-0 to Man City at Wembley. He is now manager of Posh under 18s. Photo: Midlands
6.
MICKY GYNN: Posh years 1978-1983, Posh apps 181. One of the finest homegrown players to play for Posh, this dynamic little midfielder helped Coventry City lift the FA Cup after a thrilling 3-2 win over Spurs in the 1987 final at Wembley. Gynn had scored one of the goals in an equally exciting 3-2 semi-final win over Leeds United. Gynn played 181 times for Posh before his £60k move to Coventry. He was seriously undervalued by Posh, but not by the Sky Blues for whom he went on to make just shy of 300 appearances in a 10-year stay. Gynn played for Coventry exclusively in the top flight and carved out a superb reputation as a ball carrying midfielder. His first experience of competitive football came at St Mark’s Primary School in Peterborough where one of his teammates was Trevor Quow who also went to play with distinction for Posh. Photo: Midlands
7.
JOHN WILE: Posh years: 1967-71 & 1983-86, Posh apps: 236. Wile’s excellence as a centre-back for Posh is often overshadowed by his less successful stint as a player-boss over a decade later. He enjoyed two successive ever-present seasons at London Road before joining First Division West Brom for a Posh record fee of £35k. Wile went on to make over 600 first-team appearances for the Baggies and was club captain for many seasons. He was one of the most reliable and tough top-flight centre-backs of his era. Tangible success eluded him, but he is bona fide West Brom legend. There is even a book coming out on his career later this year. Wile’s appointment as Posh player-manager in 1983 was greeted with joy by the club’s fans, but he was always hamstrung by ailing finances. He did lead the club to a fifth round FA Cup replay in the 1985-86 season. Photo: Midlands
8.
DEREK DOUGAN: Posh years 1963-1965, Posh apps: 90. Dougan was already a star striker before he joined Posh, but he credits the city club with resurrecting his career. Dougan was a controversial character who actually quit football, but Posh boss Gordon Clark tracked him down in Germany and persuaded him to sign on at London Road. Dougan stayed at London Road for two years scoring at more than a goal every other game amd starred in the club’s historic run to the FA Cup quarter-finals in in the 1964-65 season. He scored the first goal in the famous 2-1 win over Arsenal, before the inevitable return to the big time with Leicester City and then Wolves. Dougan became a Wolves legend staying for eight years and scoring close to 100 goals for the club. The Northern Ireland international became an eloquent spokesman on football matters and was a terrific pundit, outspoken, fearless and honest, unlike the anodyne characters employed on TV now.