David Johnson
| 2001 - | Forward | 92 (17) games | 41 goals |
DJ's arrival at the City Ground in January of 2001 was long-awaited. Much speculation had surrounded the deal but eventually a £3.5m fee was agreed with Premier League Ipswich Town. Johnson, who had already proved his worth with 20 goals to help Ipswich win promotion the year before, was signed to get Forest's dwindling play-off hunt back on track. But a slight injury and perhaps a lack of confidence, combined with the absence of a number of key players to create chances for him meant he had only scored two goals for Forest by the end of 2000/01.
Things didn't get much better over the 2001/02 season, with Johnson managing only three goals in 25 appearances. However, when he was loaned out to promotion-chasing Burnley, he scored an amazing six goals in a matter of weeks as the season drew to a close.
This boost to his confidence and a summer of hard work on his fitness saw Johnson reborn as the player who had helped Ipswich gain promotion three years previously. He hit great form in pre-season and carried it on right through the 2002/03 season, scoring a very impressive 29 goals, making him the division's top scorer.
He would have carried on scoring in the 2003/04 campaign were it not for a broken leg a few games into the season. It kept him out for six months, but when he returned he still looked sharp, to the relief of the Forest faithful. The welcome back he received was befitting of a hero who has not only scored many goals for the Reds, but also committed himself to the club.
Needless to say, Johnson is now one of Forest's most important players, but his great form in recent seasons has brought him back to the attention of a number of big clubs so Forest will have to fight hard to keep hold of their star striker. They will also be hoping he can stay fit and avoid the injuries that have dogged his career thus far.