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Nottingham Forest fans have hit back after Wales coach Rob Page raised question marks over the club’s handling of Brennan Johnson’s fitness.
The Reds forward suffered a groin injury earlier this month and was rated doubtful for the home clash with Newcastle United, only to be named in the starting line-up and playing the whole game.
Johnson had been due to link up with Wales for their opening Euro 2024 qualifiers against Croatia tonight and Latvia on Tuesday but has now withdrawn from the squad. The situation has left Page disappointed and seemingly unhappy that Johnson played in the Newcastle game.
"We were aware of something last week and then he went and played 90 minutes on the Friday and wasn't available to meet up on the Sunday,” said Page. “Everybody's responsible for him. It's very special to be in that changing room and play for your country.
"You shouldn't take that for granted. The people responsible for him shouldn't take that for granted and should appreciate and respect that as well."
Those comments have not gone well with Reds fans, who have defended the club and highlighted Johnson’s importance to the team. Here's a taste of the reaction on social media...
Gary Wilko: Given the importance of our remaining fixtures and how integral Brennan is to Cooper’s plans, I highly doubt he would have risked him for the Newcastle game if he had any doubts about his fitness. Shame Rob Page is only now realising how important Johnno is now that Bale has retired!
Marcus Fish: Wonder how many times he’s been responsible for exactly the opposite… pot and kettle spring to mind!
Harry Swift: Probably the most highly respected player at the club by staff and fans. He wouldn’t have been played if he wasn’t fit because he’s so key. Even the staff would think let him miss a game through injury or play him half fit and risk him for the season? Just making comments because he hasn’t got his star boy.
Gutted
Robert Earnshaw has expressed his disappointment that Brennan Johnson has been forced to miss Wales’ European Championship qualifiers with Croatia and Latvia.
In the build up to Saturday evening’s clash with Croatia, Earnshaw voiced his regret as Wales begin life without Gareth Bale.
“He is a huge miss,” the former Forest striker said. “What I love is that we are talking about Brennan Johnson in that sense because I think he deserves it, he has been a quality player, I think he has got seven goals this year in the Premier League. But his performances have been a highlight for Nottingham Forest.
“He is missing which his a big loss for Wales, huge loss because when Gareth Bale retires, who do you want to step in? For me I have looked at Brennan Johnson for a little while and thought ‘OK, can I see things that he can go in and take over the leadership and be that key difference maker?’
“I think he can, I am gutted that he is missing because this [Croatia] would have been a perfect game for him to step in and be part of that Ramsey, Kieffer Moore, Dan James front of four that dictates our attacking profile.”
Old Lodi interest
Juventus has been backed to rekindle their interest in Nottingham Forest’s Renan Lodi this summer.
The full-back joined Forest in the summer, signing a season-long loan deal from Atletico Madrid. The loan includes an option to make the move permanent in the summer for a fee of around €30million (£26.3m).
Lodi has been a regular in Steve Cooper’s starting line-up in the Premier League so far this season. But it seems that his future may not lie at the City Ground, with reports earlier this month claiming the Reds will opt against taking up the option to sign the player, who is currently on international duty with Brazil.
If that is the case, Atletico are widely expected to cash in on Lodi. Newcastle United have been credited with an interest but another team that plays in black and white could also make a move.
Juventus were reportedly keen on the player last summer prior to his move to Forest. And Juvenews.eu report that the Old Lady could go back in for the player.
Dyche days
Everton boss Sean Dyche has been recalling his days as a youngster at Nottingham Forest and his encounters with Brian Clough and his beloved dog Del Boy.
Dyche started out in the game at Forest, where he was a youth teamer in the late 1980s. He never made a first-team appearance under Clough but still has fond and humorous memories of the great man.
The former Burnley manager reminisced during an appearance on Sky Sports’ Saturday Social. Asked if he had played under Clough, Dyche replied: “I didn’t play in the first team. I played in the reserve team and the youth team.”
He continued: “The presence of him, even as a young player… it was ‘oh my goodness, the boss is coming’. His dog would come in first. He had a Golden Labrador that would come in first and you thought ‘oh no, the boss is coming’ and you’d literally dive out the way.
“We always used to have a joke. At Forest, there was a drying room. That room just used to be full of players just hiding out the way. We used to think ‘imagine if he ever opened that’. He probably knew to be fair. There would be 10 of us in there.”
Toffee statement
One of Nottingham Forest’s relegation rivals, Everton, have vowed to defend their position ‘robustly’ after being accused of breaching financial rules.
The alleged breach is for the period ending with the 2021-22 season, when the Toffees avoided relegation by four points. Burnley, who were relegated last season, and Leeds wrote to the league in May to question whether Everton’s reported three-year losses of £371.8million breached financial rules.
The league’s profit and financial sustainability rules allow clubs to lose a maximum £105m over a three-year period or face sanctions, which include points deductions for serious breaches. The Toffees are again fighting relegation, although a points deduction this season, if found guilty, is thought to be unlikely in the short-term. A transfer embargo, a future points deduction or a fine are among the potential punishments.
Everton have released the following statement: “Everton Football Club is disappointed to hear of the Premier League ’s decision to refer an allegation of a breach of Profit & Sustainability regulations to an independent commission for review.
“The club strongly contests the allegation of non-compliance and together with its independent team of experts is entirely confident that it remains compliant with all financial rules and regulations.
“Everton is prepared to robustly defend its position to the commission. The club has, over several years, provided information to the Premier League in an open and transparent manner and has consciously chosen to act with the utmost good faith at all times. The club will not be making any further comment at this time.”
Spence claim
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte never wanted to sign former Nottingham Forest loanee Djed Spence, according to a former Spurs player.
The attack-minded right-back was sensational for the Reds last season during his loan spell from Middlesbrough. His form attracted attention from some of the Premier League’s big-hitters, with Spurs edging out Forest in the race to sign him permanently last summer.
However, the move hasn’t worked out, with the 22-year-old making just five appearances off the bench prior to being loaned out to French side Rennes, where he is earning rave reviews for his performances in Ligue 1.
With Conte seemingly heading out of Spurs following his extraordinary outburst against the club and players earlier this month, Spence could be set for more opportunities at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium once his loan in France comes to an end.
Pundit and ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara has claimed Conte never wanted Spence in the first place. Speaking on talkSPORT this week, he said: “I guarantee you, he [Conte] didn’t want to sign Djed Spence. He didn’t want to sign [Arnaut] Danjuma. There are players there that he has brought in, that I guarantee you that were not number one on his list.
“They were probably number two or three down on the list. I think he has gotten disillusioned with that by saying ‘I need these players [number one picks] if you want me to win trophies, then there are certain players I want that you have to go out and spend on’. Spurs haven’t done that.”
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