Brennan Johnson insists he wasn't unsettled by speculation linking him with a return to Nottingham Forest in January.
The forward’s brilliant form for Lincoln City over the first half of the season prompted talk that the Reds would cut his season-long loan short.
But with Johnson unlikely to go into Forest’s first-team, Reds boss Chris Hughton decided to let him see out the campaign with Lincoln.
“There was uncertainty about whether I would go into the [Forest] team,” said Johnson ahead of Lincoln's trip to Plymouth on Saturday.
“The manager made it quite obvious, if I went back, I wouldn’t 100 per cent be in the team.
“So for me staying here was probably for the best for me as I’ve played a lot of games.”
Forest had until the middle of January to recall Johnson, who insists he was unfazed by the uncertainty over his immediate future.
“As weird as it might sound, it wasn’t that unsettling for me,” he said.
“There was a lot of talk about me going back but from my side I didn’t hear anything about it really.
“I got maybe one call from Forest saying it might happen, it might not. But apart from that I was training at Lincoln – that’s all I was thinking about.”
Forest changed managers soon after he joined the Imps, with Chris Hughton replacing the sack Sabri Lamouchi.
On the dialogue, he’s had with Hughton so far, Johnson said: “He’s phoned me a couple of times to have a catch-up and see how I’m doing.
“It’s been good to speak to him a few times, but they’re just letting me do what I do. I’m enjoying my time here.”
Johnson says dad David, the former Forest striker, has been on hand to offer him guidance during his first full season of senior football.
“We both felt me going out on loan was the best thing for me this season,” he said.
“Playing games, playing different types of games, not always having the ball has been good.
“He’s supported what I’m doing and is pleased to see us doing so well in the league.”
Johnson’s blistering pace has caused havoc to League One defences, leading to him winning a host of penalties, including one in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Swindon Town, with former Reds midfielder Jorge Grant converting from the spot.
It has led to some opposing managers suggesting Johnson goes down too easily.
But he said: “I don’t really look too much into that. Some managers do get annoyed by it.
“I don’t try and cheat, I just try and play the game and sometimes I do it at quite a quick pace.”
