Nottingham Forest starlet Brennan Johnson has hailed the influence of Sabri Lamouchi on his start to the 2018/19 campaign during an interview with BBC Sport.
The 18-year-old is widely regarded as the next big thing at the City Ground and has made two starts and three substitute appearances in all competitions so far this season.
In recent weeks he has been a mainstay in Lamouchi’s matchday squad and is currently away on international duty with the Wales under-21 ranks.
Johnson couldn’t have been happier with how the season is progressing and admitted it has surprised him a little bit.
He told BBC Sport: “He (Sabri Lamouchi) is really good with us – all the young players.
“I thought I would be with the under-23s at the start of the season and hopefully towards the back-end of the season, I might be involved with the first team.
“To be in since the start has been great and I think it’s only going to make me a better player. I have just got to keep doing what I am doing in training every day and hopefully, I can get more appearances. Then coming away with Wales is a bonus.”
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Johnson’s most recent outing for the Reds came as a late substitute in last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Derby County.
He played 90 minutes in the 5-0 Carabao Cup defeat against Arsenal and didn’t disgrace himself. On that occasion, he operated as a central midfielder and looks assured.
The brilliant teenager has been at Forest since the age of eight and will be looking to try and have a similar impact on the first-team as his dad, David, did.
These comments further enhance the notion that Lamouchi has every interest in developing the club’s younger players.
Johnson, Jordan Gabriel and Alex Mighten have all earned some game time this season. Matty Cash, Joe Worrall and Ryan Yates are considered regular members of the first-team picture.
Pride
The Forest youth academy is a setup for supporters to be proud of and supporters will hope to see Johnson as a regular starter in the future.
Supporters will be delighted at Johnson’s comments on Lamouchi and right now it is hard to imagine the Frenchman doing anything to really rile the club’s fan base.
Finally, it looks as though everyone at the football club is pulling in the right direction. If Forest can secure a top-six finish with several academy players at the heart of the team, it would only strengthen the relationship.
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