Brennan Johnson backed to deal with Gareth Bale…

Brennan Johnson backed to deal with Gareth Bale ‘pressure’ after Nottingham Forest heroics

Brennan Johnson has been backed to cope with the pressure and expectation after being compared to former Wales talisman Gareth Bale.

The Nottingham Forest forward is becoming an increasingly key figure for his country, particularly after the retirement of Bale following the World Cup. Johnson is hoping to help his country get their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign off to a strong start, with Wales facing a tough opener away to Croatia on Saturday before a home clash with Latvia in Cardiff on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old is a doubt for the games due to a groin problem and is not due to join up with Wales until Thursday, when he will be assessed by the medical team. However, in the long-term, it is clear Johnson will be vital as Wales look to continue their success of the last decade, which has seen them qualify for three of the last four major tournaments.

"Brennan is a top player," said Wales manager Rob Page. "He's arguably one of the best counter-attacking centre-forwards in the Premier League at this moment.

"Top players deal with pressure. He will be fine with that. His journey in the last two years since we brought him up to the first team has been really impressive. But we have to manage that with young players.

"There's no expectations from us, he just needs to keep playing how he has been and he will continue to create chances.

"Some of the opposition defenders he will play against are not as good as what he is facing week in, week out in the Premier League.

"We know he is capable of scoring goals, his pace is an unbelievable asset and threat, so we will continue to develop him and take that pressure off him. He just has to enjoy his football."

However, Page says Johnson cannot be compared to the legendary Bale, widely regarded as the greatest player in his country’s history for exploits at international and club level.

"Gareth was one on his own, world class, absolutely," added Page. "Brennan still has a lot of developing and improving to do. We think we can make him a better player as well.

"He is showing great potential at this moment, but we can't compare him to Gareth. They are different types of players."

As well as Bale, Page is also without Joe Allen, Chris Gunter and Jonny Williams, who have also retired from international football. Meanwhile, Forest goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and Tottenham defender Ben Davies have been ruled out of the Croatia and Latvia games through injury.

"It's not just Brennan that has to come in now and step up to the plate, it's an opportunity for the others around him to take that responsibility," said Page.

"It's still the same journey we are on, it's just that some of the players have retired. We want success. The biggest thing for us now is we don't just hope with the question, 'can we qualify?'.

"We believe we can. The biggest thing has to be the mindset in the changing room."

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