Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan says criticism of Brennan Johnson's form this season is harsh for one key reason.
The 21-year-old Wales international forward has played all bar five minutes in the Premier League since promotion. Johnson has won acclaim in the last two seasons, first on loan at Lincoln City and then in the Championship as Forest won promotion.
However, he has been criticised by fans for his contributions this season, but McGugan says that is unfair given the step up in class and the change in Forest's place in the league standings.
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Speaking on the latest Garibaldi Red podcast, he said: "I think he's Nottingham Forest's brightest spark. He's who people are looking at it. I've seen the stick he gets. Even last year at times, in a lot of the games I watched, he didn't contribute a lot but he comes up with moments.
"Last year you could watch a game and you don't see him but he pops up with or goal or he's scored two and you think he's had an unbelievable game.
"In reality, he hasn't done so much but he's popped up with important goals. The problem is that in the Premier League, if you're a player who is in and out of games, you might get five chances in the Championship.
"That's one or two in the Premier League. Everyone is missing the point that he's the same as last year but he's not getting as many chances as last season. I don't think his performances have dropped so much.
"It's a harder league and the difference is he's just not getting a many chances in games."
Forest are yet to find a wining formula in attack with Taiwo Awoniyi, Emmanuel Dennis, Jesse Lingard and Sam Surridge failing to nail down a place, although Dennis will hope to do so after scoring on his first start against Aston Villa on Monday night.
Morgan Gibbs-White has been more of a regular and has two assists in seven appearances with both coming from dead ball deliveries. The former Wolves man has often threatened a breakout performance and McGugan is confident that both he and Johnson will come good.
"They're completely different players," he said. "Brennan is that last man who is sharp and looking to run in behind. Gibbs-White wants to come deep, get the ball in pockets on the half-turn. Against Villa he had good spells.
"The big thing with both players is getting more opportunities in games. When that chance comes along they have to be as creative possible. It's tough because it's so early in the season.
"The way the team has played in the last few games, that won't help them. The team is going through a cycle which will impact players like that. Forest aren't in control of games like they were last season and at the start of this season.
"I think both will come good and it will be a different conversation we're having."
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