Nottingham Forest academy graduate Brennan Johnson has revealed how he receives advice from former Man United and England star David Beckham before big games.
The former England captain is a friend of Johnson’s father David, with the two playing together in the academy at Old Trafford. That association sees Beckham following Johnson’s career closely, as he has risen through the academy and into the first team at the City Ground.
“I first met him (Beckham) when I was about 15 or 16 and meeting people like that is crazy,” Johnson told the Daily Mail . “You think they’re going to be from a different world but they’re not. He’s a really nice guy, really humble.
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“He will text me saying congratulations and if he texts me before a game he always tells me, “Just enjoy the occasion”, especially before the Championship play-off final last season. I’ve not had a kick-about with him yet, though!”
That advice seems to work, with Johnson a key part of Forest’s fight against relegation from the Premier League this season. The 21-year-old has scored four goals and provided two assists so far this season, with a brace coming in a crucial 2-0 win over Leicester City last month.
But Johnson continues to learn on the job, with the step up to the Premier League providing its own lessons. There’s one game and player in particular that the winger picks out as a learning curve this campaign.
“When we played Chelsea and I faced Thiago Silva, I learned a lot,” he said. “His positioning is unbelievable so being quick is not enough. There was a moment when he stepped up and played me offside when I tried to make a run.
“As soon as he did that I knew I had to alter my timing, so the next time Morgan Gibbs-White put me through, I stayed onside. I was always thinking about his positioning and how to react. Just in the space of that game I had learned a new thing.”
Johnson is one of the local lads involved in a squad that has seen many changes over the last few months. The signing of Andre Ayew on a free transfer this week was the 29th new arrival since the end of last season.
The Nottingham born player is making sure that the new arrivals are aware of the history of Forest and the importance of being back in the top tier for the first time in 23 years.
“I’ve played here since I was eight and went to school around the corner,’ Johnson added. “Everyone wanted to play for Forest.
“So to be a local player means everything and having local players in the squad is important, when there are players coming in from all over the world. Before we played Manchester United in the League Cup, we were showing them (the new players) we had won that competition four times, and the European Cup twice.
“It lets them know how big the club is and how long the fans have waited to see us in big games. We’re the first team in a while to do it and we let them know how exciting it is for everyone. It’s so important for Forest to be back.”
Forest are next in action when they take on Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday. Ahead of the weekend’s games, the Reds sit in 13th place in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone.
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