Boss Chris Hughton has strongly suggested Nottingham Forest have no plans to recall Brennan Johnson from his loan spell this month.
The 19-year-old has been in sparkling form for Lincoln City, and took his tally to seven goals in 22 appearances on Tuesday night, when he netted in a 4-0 victory over Accrington Stanley in the Papa John’s Trophy.
Hughton is keen to strengthen his attacking resources during the January transfer window, and has been keeping a close eye on Johnson.
The teenager’s performances had placed him in the Reds manager’s thinking for a potential early recall from his season-long loan.
But Hughton has always insisted the final call would revolve around whether Johnson would get the same kind of regular game time back at the City Ground.
And with the Imps expecting clarification of the player’s situation this week - with the two clubs having agreed a window when a decision would be made - it seems he is likely to remain at Sincil Bank.
“I think it’s probably more that we’re happy with him where he is at the moment,” Hughton told NottinghamshireLive.
“First and foremost, I have a responsibility to the team to try to get the points that we need to start climbing the table.
“But I also have a responsibility to the club and to development.
“And at this moment, my thinking has been that, fortunately for Brennan, he’s at a club where he’s playing regularly.
“There would be numerous occasions where somebody goes out on loan and you find they’re not playing so much.
“Credit to everybody associated with Lincoln and the manager, that he’s playing consistently.
“At the moment, probably my thoughts are more very much that he’s better off there.
“We look forward to him hopefully having a very good season. And then the summer becomes a different story.”
