Newcastle target Brennan Johnson produces eye-catching Forest display

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Nottingham Forest youngster Brennan Johnson continued his remarkable breakout season with an eye-catching display against Blackpool.

Steve Cooper’s Forest beat Neil Critchley’s Blackpool side 4-1 at Bloomfield Road in the early Championship kick-off yesterday.

The win against the Tangerines moved Forest up to seventh in the Championship table and one point off the play-off places while having at least one game in hand on all of the four sides who currently occupy the four play-off spots.

Brennan Johnson spearheading Forest’s play-off push

The 20-year-old set up Forest’s opener with a neat cutback to Philip Zinckernagel whose deflected effort looped over Blackpool goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw and into the back of the net.

Johnson then doubled Forest’s lead with a clinical first-time half volley which arrowed into the far bottom corner passed Grimshaw.

It was a real moment of technical class by the young Welshman.

Johnson doubled his tally for the day when he plucked Grimshaw’s poor clearance out the sky before drifting passed a Blackpool defender and then dinking the ball over the on-rushing Grimshaw and into the back of the net.

The attacking midfielder now has 14 goals and six assists to his name this season and it’s little wonder that the likes of Newcastle United are circling ahead of the summer transfer window.

Johnson could yet clinch Premier League promotion with the City Ground side but that isn’t likely to deter the world’s richest club from making an approach.

The Daily Mail report that the Magpies have identified Forest’s Brennan Johnson as a player they would realistically like to add to the squad, but they expect fierce competition to secure his signature.

Nottinghamshire Live lauded Johnson for his performance against Blackpool.

The nine-time Wales international was given a 9/10 rating and the report read: “Composure beyond his years with two brilliant, clinical finishes in the first half, plus an assist. What a talent he is. Outstanding.”