Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi has told BBC Radio Nottingham what message he gave to Brennan Johnson prior to him making his first start for the club.
The 18-year-old has been a revelation for the club’s under-23 team and was a surprise inclusion in Lamouchi’s starting eleven in last night’s game with Derby County.
Johnson played for just under an hour in the 3-0 win for the Reds and showed glimpses of his quality.
(Photo by Jon Hobley/ MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Lamouchi has been impressed with the youngster and highlighted what his message was prior to the game.
He told BBC Radio Nottingham: “When I put Brennan in my team I was not worried.
“I told him ‘If you play well you will stay with us, if you play bad you will stay with us’.
“It was a clear message to just play as he has been doing in training for the last month.”
Johnson made his league debut when he stepped off the bench in the club’s opening game of the season against West Bromwich Albion.
Seat Pitch Summary – Sky is the limit for Johnson
Although the teenager had a relatively quiet game for the Reds in his first start for the club, it wasn’t for the lack of trying.
He played a beautiful pass to Rafa Mir in the first half and was lively without.
Nothing seems to faze the youngster. He has scored goals all over the park for the club’s youth teams and has already shown he can play in a number of positions.
(Photo by Jon Hobley/ MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Forest’s squad might be sizeable but there is no reason why Johnson cannot become a regular in the first-team in years to come.
The son of former Forest fan favourite David Johnson, he looks like one of the brightest talents to emerge from the academy for many years.
Last night’s start could provide the foundations for a glittering career in the professional game and the sky is the limit at this stage.