Brennan Johnson has revealed he wants to emulate his most famous follower David Beckham by starring at a World Cup.
Manchester United and England legend Beckham won 115 international caps and scored 17 goals, including a memorable last-gasp free-kick against Greece which propelled the Three Lions to the 2002 World Cup. Johnson was only five months old when Beckham struck against the Greeks but is aware of his exploits as his own dad David came through the Old Trafford ranks with the United midfielder.
Beckham has since stayed in touch with the Johnson family, following Brennan’s progress and giving him advice amid his rise at Nottingham Forest. Now in-form Johnson, who has 11 goals and six assists for promotion-chasing Forest this term, has his sights set on propelling his country Wales to the biggest stage of all.
Rob Page’s men host Austria in Cardiff on Thursday in a one-legged play-off semi-final. Victory would leave them a game away from Qatar this winter ahead of a home play-off final in June against Scotland or Ukraine.
Winger Johnson, 20, who has seven international caps, said: “I have heard from David Beckham a few times but he hasn’t said anything about Wales. He is a great player and a lot of people looked up to him, including me. He was a really good influence. It would be unbelievable to play at a World Cup and hopefully we can do that if we win on Thursday.
“It would mean everything to score and just anything to help the team get the win on Thursday would be good. Everyone dreams of playing at a World Cup.”
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Johnson’s red-hot form helped Forest reach the FA Cup quarter-finals , where they eventually lost 1-0 to Liverpool after previously knocking out Arsenal, Leicester and Huddersfield. Play-off hopefuls Forest have also lost just once in 11 league games and Johnson is in great spirits: “Club form always helps and coming into this game I am confident of doing well. It has been going really well this season and the whole team has been doing well. I am enjoying my football.”
Johnson has excelled this season after the agony of missing out on a place at the Euros last summer, when Wales reached the last 16. He admitted: “It was disappointing not being in the Euros squad.
“I spoke to the manager around that time as well and he kind of explained. He went for different players with a lot of quality. I think the boys did really well. But as soon as that was finished, I was trying to get myself back into the team for the upcoming season.
“I was working on improving everything and taking my game to the next level which was the message and hopefully I have been able to do that.”
