"He scored the winning goal in last season's Europa League final and cost Tottenham Hotspur 50m, making him the second most expensive Welshman in history - second only to the great Gareth Bale. So why, when Wales faced Belgium in a vital World Cup qualifier last month, was Brennan Johnson dropped? On the face of it, the 24-year-old should be a figurehead for his country,"
"With the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Mathys Tel competing with him for a starting spot at Spurs, rotation is hardly a surprise. But for Wales, Johnson would expect to be one of the first names on the team sheet - even if his performances have underwhelmed for some time. It was still significant, then, when head coach Craig Bellamy relegated the former Nottingham Forest forward to the bench against Belgium."
He scored the winning goal in last season's Europa League final and cost Tottenham Hotspur £50m, making him the second most expensive Welshman behind Gareth Bale. He was dropped for a vital World Cup qualifier against Belgium despite being a proven Premier League goalscorer. Competition for starting places at Spurs from Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Mathys Tel contributes to rotation. Johnson debuted aged 19 in November 2020 and established himself during the 2022 World Cup campaign as Bale's international career wound down. Wales finish qualifying against Liechtenstein and North Macedonia and are likely to reach the play-offs, leaving Johnson's national-team place uncertain.
Read at www.bbc.com
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