Johnson poses threat to Town

HE may not be the 'King of Portman Road' anymore but he still reigns supreme in the scoring charts as far as Blues fans are concerned, writes Derek Davis.

David Johnson was a firm favourite at Portman Road for his goals and he has not lost the knack, scoring three goals in his last two games against Town.

His brace a couple of years ago at the City Ground was followed at the end of last season with a single strike - and he wasn't even fully fit then.

Johnson is looking for three in a row tonight whether he is partnered by Gareth Tyalor, as on Saturday, or Marlon King, who has been disappointing since his £1m move from Gillingham in place of Marlon Harewood, who went to West Ham.

He said: “Ipswich are a passing team and probably the best at it in the division.

“They are not going to lump it forward but that gives us the chance to catch them on the break.

“I have managed to get on to the scoresheet the last couple of times I have played them and hopefully I can do that again. It's certainly going to be a good spectacle.”

The former Bury striker, who left Town in a £3m move to Forest, is well aware that Ipswich carry a goal threat, or three, themselves.

He said: “When I was at Ipswich, Darren Bent was the one everybody was raving about and he has proved to be a fantastic young player.

“I always look at our kids as a benchmark because I think we have got some of the best in the country but the ones they have got at Ipswich are not bad at all.

“They are pushing on as well because they are playing week in, week out.

“But the two teams have quality and it should be a cracking game.”

With all Forest's defensive problems, Johnson was delighted to get a draw at of one of the promotion favourites Wigan.

He said: “We are definitely looking to push on now. That result on Saturday was a big confidence boost and everyone is buzzing.

“We can't wait for the game. Hopefully we can get a win and another one against Crewe on Saturday and then seven points after three games would look really good.”

Jon Olav Hjelde has been handed a 12-month deal after his international clearance came through last night and will return against Ipswich tonight.

Hjelde knows that once Michael Dawson and John Thompson return from groin and shoulder injuries respectively, he will be back on the bench.

Wes Morgan is suspended and will also move ahead of the Norwegian in the pecking order, while Des Walker was called out of retirement to help out and came on when 18-year-old James Perch was forced off on Saturday with cramp.

Hjelde was released by Forest after 175 games in six years and went off to Korea to play for the Busan Icons, but returned to have a spell with QPR.