Wales and Forest’s rising star, Brennan Johnson

Nottingham Forest and Wales talent Brennan Johnson has been awarded the EFL Young Player of the Year award for the 2021/22 championship season., and has proven a vital factor in the success of Steve Cooper’s side this season. Here is an insight into the career of the 20-year-old forward. 

The young Welshman fought off some impressive competition for the prestigious award including fellow teammate Djed Spence who is looking increasingly likely to become a Premier League player next season, as well as Liverpool-bound Fabio Carvalho.

After enjoying a magnificent campaign in which he scored 16 goals and 10 assists, it is not hard to understand why the young striker was the first Welsh player to pick up the coveted honour.

Upon joining Nottingham Forest academy at the age of eight, Johnson paved his way through the age groups until he made his senior debut against West Bromwich Albion in a 2-1 defeat as a substitute aged eighteen. His first professional goal soon followed at the end of that same month against local rivals Derby County.

He spent the following season on loan to league 1 side Lincoln City where he registered an impressive tally in its own right of 13 goals and 14 assists, in a campaign which ended in reaching the Play-Off Final.

The talented forward experienced a slight dip in form at the beginning of this season, but since the appointment of their new manager and fellow Welshman Steve Cooper, Johnson has flourished in their push for promotion to the Premier League.

It’s believed Forest have offered Johnson a new contract with his current deal running out in 2023, however, it’s unlikely he will sign unless Forest are successful in their push for promotion which would be The Reds’ first time back in the top flight since 1999.

Prost International’s Steve Clare was at Forest’s recent win over Fulham where he witnessed Johnson in action. He added; “Against a side that will be in the Premier League next season Brennan Johnson did not look out of place.”

“His Wembley experience with Lincoln also showed he can handle the big occasions. Should Forest go up, his position is not likely to be one where Steve Cooper feels he has to shop for a better option.”

Nottingham Forest would do well to keep hold of the talented striker with a host of Premier League clubs in pursuit of him this summer including Leicester, Brentford, Newcastle and even champions league semi-finalists Villarreal.

With only one year left on his contract in his current twelve-year stay with the West Bridgford side, it is believed Johnson would go for a fee of around 20-25 million.

Johnson has played every fixture this season for his championship side and could potentially play a key role in Rob Pages Wales squad and add to his already nine caps for his home country if Wales can overcome Scotland/Ukraine on 5 June.

Either way, Brennan Johnson has a huge career ahead of him and it will be interesting to see whether he makes the step up to the highest level of English football next season.

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