Why Brennan Johnson looks like the Premier League’s next star

Last weekend, Brennan Johnson was the star of the show as Nottingham Forest beat Leicester City. It was a comfortable 3-0 for Forest, and an enjoyable match for Johnson, who gelled well with fellow forward Morgan Gibbs-White. He scored twice – against international teammate Danny Ward – and looked confident and assured in his play. Though only 21 years old, he has taken the transition to Premier League football in his stride, asserting his place as one of Forest’s best players this season.

Johnson was similarly emphatic last season, scoring 16 goals in 46 Championship appearances as compatriot Steve Cooper guided Forest from the relegation zone to the playoffs, and then into the Premier League. It is worth noting that last year was his first Championship season: he spent the previous one on loan to Lincoln City.

He’s an international talent

Although he has lacked significant minutes for Wales, due to the (justified) presence of recently-retired Gareth Bale on the right wing, he has also sparkled on the international stage. With goals against the Netherlands and Belgium to his name, Johnson has already proven that he’s a threat on the international stage. The thought is, amongst a proportion of Welsh fans, that he is one of the primary reasons for Bale’s decision to step aside from the national team. Though their international future is mired with uncertainty after the retirement of their greatest-ever footballer, supporters can find solace in the fact that such an electric talent waits in the wings.

Consistency is key

Wherever Johnson has played, he has shone. His League One campaign with Lincoln City, in which they reached the playoff final was an early sign of this, as he returned 10 goals from 40 league appearances. The transition to the Championship was easy, despite only previously having played four times in it, while his return of four goals from 19 Premier League games is a sure sign of his ability to adapt to elite-level football. Cooper believes in him, telling the Nottingham Post that “he's got so much growth to come”.

Cooper is correct, as he has at his disposal a footballer of mercurial propensity. The focus now is on pushing him to the next level.

He’s a complete forward

Versatility is key for the modern attacker. With so many teams opting to play a front three, it is essential for forwards to be adaptable, and Johnson has the attributes to cement his place in the Nottingham Forest first team. According to Squawka, his take on success rate has increased from his incredible last season, up to 55.17% from 48.28%, which indicates that he’s growing in confidence with every match. It is important to note, though, that Forest have been a more counterattacking side this year, and as such Johnson is more likely to have been instructed by Cooper to be as direct as possible.

The Verdict

Brennan Johnson’s plight, whether it’s this season or the next, is one to keep a close eye on. A dazzling winger or forward, his pace can’t be typified as raw, but maybe as refined; his footwork and ball control is exemplary. Playing under Steve Cooper, former England u16 and u17 manager, he is being managed by a man with an intrinsic knowledge of developing fledgling talents.

Though this is perhaps a bold prediction, it is not unreasonable to argue that he may – fitness permitting – finish this Premier League season with upward of 10 goals. He already has six in all competitions, and with another capable young talent – Morgan Gibbs-White - featuring in attack with him, there’s every possibility that such a prediction will come true.