According to Wales manager Rob Page, Brennan Johnson has the capability to manage the stress of being compared to Gareth Bale.
With Gareth Bale retiring in January, Wales are getting ready for the Euro 2024 qualifiers without him. The 33-year-old holds the Welsh men’s record of scoring 41 goals in 111 international matches.
Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson has showcased his abilities this season, but his groin injury will be evaluated before the Group D opener in Croatia on Saturday.
“Brennan is a top player,” Page said.
“He’s arguably one of the best counter-attacking centre-forwards in the Premier League at this moment.
“Top players deal with pressure. He will be fine with that.
“His journey in the last two years since we brought him up to the first team has been really impressive. But we have to manage that with young players.
“There’s no expectations from us, he just needs to keep playing how he has been and he will continue to create chances.
“Some of the opposition defenders he will play against are not as good as what he is facing week in, week out in the Premier League.
“We know he is capable of scoring goals, his pace is an unbelievable asset and threat, so we will continue to develop him and take that pressure off him. He just has to enjoy his football.”
