Johnson can be answer to conundrum
IT has been a memorable year for Nottingham Forest youngster Brennan Johnson, even if the season didn’t end in the way he had hoped.
Promotion to the Championship eluded Lincoln City in the 20-yearold’s final game of his loan spell, but Johnson can still reflect on an impressive stint with the Imps.
He established himself as a key player for the League One side and netted 13 goals in 49 appearances - a haul which included the first hat-trick of his professional career - to be crowned Lincoln’s Young Player of the Season.
Added to that, he made his international debut for Wales earlier in the campaign, as he proved what a talented prospect the Reds have on their books.
Inevitably, it has led to speculation about his future, with his performances catching the eye of other clubs. ■■Who has been linked?
Johnson is believed to have been attracting admirers for some time, even more so as his season at Sincil Bank got people sitting up and taking notice.
Burnley are said to have watched him in action. Leeds United and Brentford have been previously linked. Leicester City and Barnsley have become the latest teams to show an interest, according to The Athletic.
He is understood to be valued at around £10m and does still have two years left to run on his contract. ■■Where does he fit into Forest’s plans?
Getting the best out of his attack and adding more goals to the side are the biggest conundrums for Reds boss Chris Hughton to solve this summer.
In part, that will come through new signings. But players such as Johnson, who are already on the books, can be central to the manager’s thinking, too.
The Nigel Doughty Academy graduate showed his credentials on that front during his time at Lincoln.
He can play in a number of different positions and has the ability to cause opposition defences problems, as well as find the back of the net. Factor in the pace he has to offer and he could be a great asset next term.
Forest do need to strengthen their attacking resources, but Johnson will hope he gets a real chance to show what he can do as well.
■■What has been said?
Hughton has frequently given the impression he rates the young attacker highly - indeed, he thought long and hard about whether to recall him early, in January.
In the end, it was decided Johnson should stay put, but the Reds manager did watch him in action against Burton Albion and he was invited back for a few days’ training with the first-team during the campaign.
That gave Hughton the opportunity to watch him first hand and he will get even more of a chance when the players return for pre-season training.
The Forest chief has previously said Johnson can be in the running to push for a place in the first-team at the City Ground.
“For as much as possible, if we have got young players that are doing well, then that’s the reason you send them out on loan,” said Hughton.
“You send them out on loan so they can come into your thoughts and you can consider them.
“But ultimately, at the end, the biggest consideration will be, we have a real tough Championship season next year - and if anything this division is getting tougher. And what I want is the most competitive squad I can to be able to compete.
“If those young players we have spoken about, who have come back after being on loan, have done well enough to adjust my thinking, then it’s because it’s the right thing.
“All of these decisions are ones we’ll give a lot of thought to.
“Most importantly, they have gone out and done well, and they will have put themselves in the reckoning.”