Nottingham Forest captain Joe Worrall has told TalkSPORT that he will miss Brennan Johnson. The Reds cashed in on their prized academy graduate on transfer deadline day, selling him to Tottenham for £47.5 million.
The Reds skipper was excellent on Saturday as Forest kicked off their campaign post-Johnson with a 1-0 win over Chelsea. Forest won thanks to a goal by Anthony Elanga but it was Worrall who came in for some praise.
At 26-years-old, Worrall has transitioned from boy to man at Forest. Similarly, Johnson did the same at Forest and it was somewhat heartwrenching that the club needed to sell him in order to strengthen their own squad.
The captain was sad to see him leave. He does, however, understand that football can be cruel at times and he’s wished Johnson all the best in life after Forest and the City Ground.
Worrall told TalkSPORT (05/09; 10:28am): “We’ll miss him definitely. He’s a lovely lad, he’s kind-hearted and on the football pitch, he offered us so much last year. He was a vital part of getting us up and keeping us there. That’s football though and it’d life. Tottenham is a huge club and I do wish him all the best.”
Worrall delivers verdict on Johnson leaving Forest
It will seem strange when Forest return to the City Ground to play Burnley and Johnson isn’t in the Garibaldi. As Worrall says though, that’s the world of football!
Selling Johnson has allowed Forest to strengthen. It gives them straight profit onto the financial fair play spreadsheet and now the Reds should start to look like a better unit.
The 22-year-old should star at Tottenham. He’s got all of the ingredients to be a quality player and under Ange Postecoglou he could light up the Premier League.
Forest have to move on though. Johnson never kicked up a stink to leave the City Ground and for that, he does deserve some respect.
This is a new era at Forest though. Ibrahim Sangare, Divock Origi and Callum Hudson-Odoi all arrived on deadline day and it will be fascinating to see how the new players get on.
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