The Top Flight
Fansided

Five Youngsters to Watch Out for in the 2022/23 Premier League Season

By Isabel Crofts

Brennan Johnson of Nottingham Forest celebrates during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final match against Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Brennan Johnson of Nottingham Forest celebrates during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final match against Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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Brennan Johnson Nottingham Forest
Brennan Johnson of Nottingham Forest celebrates after scoring their side’s first goal during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi Final 2nd Leg match against Sheffield United at City Ground. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

Brennan Johnson
Age: 21
Club: Nottingham Forest
Nationality: Wales

On the back of the best season in his career so far, Brennan Johnson will be looking to take the Premier League by storm the same way he did in the Championship last year.

Scoring in both legs of the playoff semi-finals meant he secured his boyhood club Nottingham Forest the tantalising opportunity of returning to the top flight for the first time since 1999 – and they succeeded.

Having been at the club since he was eight, Johnson didn’t entertain approaches this summer from the likes of Tottenham, Newcastle or Leicester, and instead pledged himself to Forest for a further four years, penning a new deal to fulfil his dream of representing his club in the top division.

After spending a season on loan at Lincoln City, in which he netted 11 goals and assisted five for the League One side, he was ready to fight and earn his place as a Forest starter in the 2021/2022 campaign – and earn it he did.

49 matches, 18 goals and 10 assists for the prolific Welshman across the season, meaning he achieved double G/A contributions despite being only 20 years old for the majority of the campaign.

He was awarded EFL Young Player of the Month in September 2021, EFL Championship Player of the Month in April 2022, and polished them off with the EFL Young Player of the Season for 21/22 – though, none of it would have compared to lifting the play-off final trophy at Wembley in front of the travelling Forest faithful.

As if his season couldn’t get any better, he was called up to represent his national team, Wales, numerous times, and played a part in securing the team’s place at the 2022 Qatar World Cup – their first time at the tournament since 1958.

The 21-year-old is skilful, speedy and a danger in front of goal. Premier League defenders will be working overtime trying to prepare their backline from being penetrated by the gifted forward.

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