Brennan Johnson must improve despite 100% display in Tottenham win v Newcastle United as Sky Sports pundit speaks out
Brennan Johnson put in a solid display for Tottenham in their return-to-form with a 4-1 win over Newcastle United, but the winger should heed some advice from Sky Sports pundit Michael Dawson if he is to now push on.
The Wales international was shifted out to the right-hand side for the showdown in North London to accommodate Son Heung-min’s return to the left, with Richarlison used through the middle.
Son assisted two goals and scored another from the penalty spot, while Richarlison was twice on target, meaning the pair rightly claimed all the plaudits.
Indeed, it was the first time since February 2022, against Manchester City, that Son has assisted more than one goal in a single game [Statman Dave].
Johnson was desperately unlucky as he twice hit the frame of the goal. Had either of those attempts ended in the net, it would have been a huge confidence booster for the tricky winger.
In the view of former Tottenham ace Dawson [Sky Sports, 16:20] – speaking ahead of the match with Newcastle – “confidence” is something Johnson needs to start showing more of.
“His best position is out on the right,” he said. “What he’s got is pace to burn. He can knock the ball past the full-back and whip a cross in, or chop back inside.
“He just needs to have a bit more confidence. I watched him against West Ham the other night and he had a chance to shoot.
“I thought ‘stick it in the top corner, show these Spurs fans what you can do because you did it for Nottingham Forest, getting them in the Premier League.’
“He’s done it for Forest in the Premier League last season. He has so much quality in abundance, but this is now the next level up for him.”
Johnson by no means had a bad game against Newcastle, as reflected by his perfect 100-per-cent (4/4) dribble-success rate [Sofascore]. It is fair to say the Welshman got the better of opposite number Tino Livramento in that battle.
Where the 22-year-old needs to improve is in terms of his end product, as only one of his four crosses found a team-mate [WhoScored], while none of his three shots found the target.
To put that into some context, eight Spurs players had a shot on target against a hapless Newcastle side, including the man who replaced him late on in Oliver Skipp.
Johnson also had just 43 touches of the ball – eight other Tottenham players had more – so getting involved more in the action is another area of improvement.
On the basis of this four-goal showing from Spurs, though, there is no reason why Ange Postecoglou will not stick with the same line-up against Nottingham Forest on Friday (15 December).
Up against his former club, where he tore things up over a number of seasons, do not bet against Johnson producing the type of performance that shows he has now arrived as a Spurs player.
In other Tottenham news, a 42-touch gem showed with his performance against Newcastle where Postecoglou has gone wrong of late.