Howard Walker, Staff ReporterJAMAICAN INTERNATIONAL Jermaine Johnson could still be in the English Premier League if he was more consistent, said Bolton assistant boss Phil Brown on the Soccernet website after watching his former player turn in an impressive display for Oldham against his old club.
In a pre-season game against Bolton last Wednesday, John-son, although he didn't score, was so impressive that Brown revealed that "Johnson would still be at the Reebok Stadium if he showed his talent more consistently".
"The reason why we let him go is that the consistency was not quite there," Brown said after the game. "If he could produce that kind of performance week in, week out, then he would be playing in the Premiership.
"If he produces that kind of performance for Oldham next season, then I have got every reason to believe he will be one of the top goalscorers in the (first) division," he said.
Johnson joined Bolton Wanderers in September 2001 after a successful trial. He made an impressive debut in a 1-1 draw at Arsenal a few days after he signed, and was a real livewire in that game.
14 APPEARANCES
He went on to make 14 appearances in his debut season and big things were expected of him. Johnson, 23, who plays midfield for Jamaica, joined English League One team Oldham on loan in November last year and made the move permanent on transfer deadline day in May, signing a new one-year deal. Oldham, known as the 'Latics', are effectively a Division Three side despite being in English League One. That division, follows the top two - English Premiership and English League Championship.
In a recent warm-up game against Rochdale, according to Oldham's website, Johnson scored two goals in the 90th minute using his speed to outpace the defenders.
For the first he received a through ball and lobbed the onrushing goalkeeper from the edge of the box. It was described as a "superb finish from the Jamaican". The second was identical but this time he coolly slotted home.
"Another superb finish which we hope we will see in the upcoming season," said website reporter Mike Scott.
Scott concluded by saying that Oldham needed to give Johnson the ball a lot more because he was the key to their promotion push.
