I WANT TO BE BRENNAN JOHNSON

Forest’s flying forward wants to emulate his Prem idols Heung-min Son and Salah

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BRENNAN JOHNSON is taking inspiration from role models Mo Salah and Heungmin Son as he looks to join them in the Premier League.

Prolific Salah and Son (below, right) have 22 and 21 goals respectively in the top flight this term for Liverpool and Tottenham.

The superstars are deadly at cutting in from wide areas to net, which is how Johnson likes to play.

The 20-year-old’s direct style has helped him smash 17 goals in a stunning breakthrough season to fire Forest into the play-offs. They now visit Sheffield United today in the play-off semi-final first leg before hosting the Blades on Tuesday.

Asked about his heroes, Welsh international Johnson replied: “Salah,

Son, players like that in my position. I like watching their games and trying to take things from them.

“They are two unbelievable players who get huge numbers in goals and assists. And as well as that they are good players.

“The thought of playing against them next season would be unbelievable. We have the chance to do it and hopefully we can start well.” Johnson’s heroics have spearheaded

Forest’s incredible surge up the table since Steve Cooper took charge in

September.

Ex-england Under17 boss Cooper has experienced the play-offs the past two years and has lots of faith in youngsters.

Johnson (below), whose dad David lost to the Bramall Lane outfit in the play-offs with Forest in 2003, is happy to take responsibility in the vital matches. And promotion would vindicate Johnson’s decision to stay in January after he snubbed a bigmoney bid from Brentford.

Johnson, who still lives at home, added: “You have to stay cool. It is going to be loud and aggressive in Sheffield. “We have played them twice this season and drawn both times.

“It might take a bit of quality and that is what I am in the team for. I want to score and create some moments for us to hopefully get us a good result.

“This season I feel really confident in the final third that I can maybe find a teammate or get a shot off.

“Hopefully we can get a result on Saturday and the atmosphere at the City Ground on Tuesday should be unbelievable. We can’t wait for that.”

Johnson experienced the play-offs last season on loan at Lincoln who beat Sunderland in the semis before losing in the final to Blackpool at Wembley.

He added: “Last season when we won and got to Wembley it was such a great feeling.”

FOREST FIRE Johnson has burning ambition to join his heroes in top flight