By late Sunday afternoon the outcome of the League One Playoff Final at Wembley Stadium will effect Nottingham Forest and their fans for so many reasons next season. Choosing Blackpool or Lincoln for an away day both whets the appetite should one make the Championship by winning the match in question, but for two young Forest players, they’ll be doing battle against each other under the arch at HA9, for bragging rights themselves in the promotion race and their own moment to shine.
Both Jordan Gabriel and Brennan Johnson have been loaned out by Forest this season, 22-year-old full back Gabriel to Blackpool whom he’s played for on 29 occasions in the league, whilst Johnson has starred for Lincoln City with 13 goals in all competitions playing 48 times for the Imps, the son of former Red, David Johnson, has also received his first international cap for Wales, the 20-year-old is well and truly at the start of a promising career.
For both players, they had previously found game time difficult to come by at the City Ground despite being touted for future success in-house, Gabriel a right back who is intelligent and defensively astute, Johnson a crafty midfield playmaker who does his best work in the final third, for both they’ll be looking to showcase themselves at the home of football, whilst Nottingham Forest are still to play at (the new) Wembley Stadium, two young reds players appearing on the hallowed turf in front of the SKY cameras is little but promising consolation, fans will watch closely on how they perform on the day, Chris Hughton even closer as he plans for the next season ahead.
Rumour is that Forest will make changes to their squad this summer with a massive clearance and overhaul of what is currently there, chance for youngsters to fill the void, two players who themselves have done well in their league one loan spells, both wanting to return with first team Championship football their next target.
Londoner Gabriel joined Nottingham Forest from Southend United in 2015 after being released by Arsenal and played the first two games of the 2020/21 campaign under Sabri Lamouchi before being loaned out to Blackpool to gain further experience.
Last season he spent a successful spell at Scunthorpe United on loan and this season held down his place in the Tangerines team but has been recently used as a substitute for Manager Neil Critchley as Blackpool edged Oxford United out over two legs to reach Wembley. Gabriel talked positively about a conversation with Chris Hughton who’s been monitoring his progress and hopes that he could be involved back at Forest next season after his work with Blackpool is done.
For Brennan Johnson, he has been a key reason, along with ex-reds Liam Bridcutt and Jorge Grant, to why Lincoln City have performed so well under Michael Appleton this past year, his quality on the ball unquestioned, some fans of his however think he maybe too slight, and can improve on his finishing somewhat, but still only twenty and often looking like a stand out player in his team at the third level of English football, making that step up in class next season shouldn’t be too difficult for a player who has already played eight times for Forest and who now has near fifty football league games under his belt.
With the likes of Leeds United said to be interested in the Nottingham born star, the Reds are set to reject bids and make instead, the player part of the structure for the season ahead, with Chris Hughton impressed with what he’s seen, he’ll be keen to get Johnson back for a closer look in pre-season.
A player who’s even impressed David Beckham enough to recently send him a message of congratulations after his goal in the play-off semi-final against Sunderland, Johnson is one that stands out as having the credentials to make the grade, but standing in his way on Sunday potentially is his own Forest team-mate, whilst the winner will enjoy the celebrations from what will be a sensational experience on the day, regardless of what happens, we’ll be hoping both will be playing in the Championship, with Nottingham Forest next season.
*Main image @Wembleystadium the stage set for the playoffs weekend.
