Since he arrived at Tottenham Hotspur in 2023, Brennan Johnson has made 52 appearances scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists.
In fact, Johnson has scored eight of those goals for Tottenham this season, meaning he’s currently top goal scorer for Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs paid a sizable amount to prise the Wales international away from Nottingham Forest, and the 23-year-old is beginning to prove why on the right-wing.
Postecoglou chose to drop Johnson for their brilliant 4-0 away win at Manchester City last weekend, but the winger was still able to come on and score in the second half.
Brennan Johnson shares what Ange Postecoglou always praises him for
That being said, when speaking in an interview with Optus Sport, Johnson has provided an interesting insight into life behind the scenes working with Postecoglou.
Johnson shared how Postecoglou’s advice has been benefitting him through good times and the bad, which has been delivered almost in equal measure in N17 of late.
He said: “I think when I first signed it was all quite rushed, it was right at the end of the window so we didn’t have loads [of time] to talk before I came.
“And since I’ve been here it’s been a really positive relationship, I think there’s times when I’m doing well and he kind of keeps pushing me to do more and never really thinks about the past – he always thinks about the next action.
“Also, when things aren’t going well, I think he’s very good at kind of signalling out why it hasn’t gone well and he gives really good advice to try and change that, because when things aren’t going well, I think he can see it with a real clear vision and he’s good at telling you.
Pressed on what kind of advice Postecoglou had given him, Johnson continued: “I think he gives a lot of praise for working hard and I think a lot of it can go under the radar, especially from outside our little bubble of Tottenham.
“I think a lot of hard work and when people are really trying for the team, it can kind of go under the radar.
“He’s good at making sure working hard for the team is rewarded.”
Is Brennan Johnson more effective as a striker?
Given Dominic Solanke’s arrival at Tottenham’s it’s rarely discussed if Johnson could still have a future as a striker.
The 23-year-old often played centrally for Forest, something he’s seldom done in north London.
As you may expect, Johnson’s goal ratio is significantly better whilst playing as a striker in his career to date.
Postecoglou often allows his winger to drift inside in fairness, but perhaps there’s still another area of the Welshman’s game to tap into in the future.
Son Heung-min is more effective on the wing at this stage of his career, and it’s not impossible to think that Johnson might be used as number nine once again.