Head coach Steve Cooper is determined to keep Nottingham Forest youngster Brennan Johnson’s feet on the ground amid a flying start to the season.
The 20-year-old attacker has picked up from where he left off in last term’s impressive loan spell at Lincoln City, proving he can be just as influential in a league above.
A regular in the starting XI, he has chipped in with two goals and three assists from 11 games for the Reds, with his devastating pace proving to be a particularly useful asset.
He has his own chant and is frequently serenaded as “one of our own” by Forest fans watching on.
Pundit's accusation
Simon Jordan has launched a scathing attack on Nottingham Forest's players, pointing the finger of blame at them for Chris Hughton's sacking.
The former Crystal Palace chairman turned talkSPORT pundit reckons everybody at the City Ground is guilty for Hughton losing his job last month.
It comes as Forest have started life exceedingly well under new manager Steve Cooper, who registered back-to-back 3-0 victories after drawing with Millwall.
On the situation at Forest, Jordan said: “You made the change because Chris Hughton wasn’t getting from these players what he required.
“And if you look to the previous game and some of the results I saw they were just shocking, they weren’t playing for this manager."
To-do list
Positive first impression? Tick. Improvement in results? Tick. Players on side? Tick.
Steve Cooper has made a fine start to life as Nottingham Forest manager.
Barely two weeks into the job, he has immediately made a significant difference, turning the Reds’ performances and results around.
But, as the Welshaman would acknowledge, it has been just three games. There is a long way to go yet, and tougher tests to come.
Indeed, after Saturday’s victory at Birmingham City, Cooper was keen to point out where Forest still needed to improve - despite the comfortable 3-0 scoreline.
The international break will afford him valuable time on the training pitch with his players, after being thrown in at the deep end with a hectic fixture list.
We take a look at what will be on his to-do list in the next two weeks.
New role?
Former Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi is said to be in the running to take charge of Standard Liege.
The Belgian outfit are on the lookout for a new manager after Mbaye Leye was sacked this week - and Lamouchi has been mentioned as a potential replacement.
The Frenchman is currently out of work, having left Qatari club Al Duhail in August, and has been on Liege’s radar before.
Will Still, who worked in Preston North End’s youth set-up earlier in his career, German coach Bernd Storck and ex-Belgium international Marc Wilmots are also possible candidates, according to Belgium media - though it is claimed Still may join as part of the coaching set-up, rather than as manager.
