Rob Page has hit out at Nottingham Forest over their handling of Brennan Johnson after the forward was ruled out of Wales’s opening Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Johnson will play no part against Croatia on Saturday and will also miss Tuesday’s home match against Latvia after aggravating a groin problem in Forest’s defeat to Newcastle last week.
Page accused Forest of disrespecting Wales by allowing Johnson to play more than 90 minutes against Newcastle. The 21-year-old was subsequently unable to report for international duty 48 hours later because of injury. “First and foremost I feel for Brennan,” Page said. “He wants to play international football like everybody else.
As we know, playing for your country is something very special, it shouldn’t be taken for granted, by anyone. Everybody who has got a responsibility for Brennan should respect that and help him in any way they can. “It’s very special to be in that changing room and play for your country.