Brennan Johnson is starting to show why Spurs spent £47m to sign him | Tottenham Hotspur

bRennan Johnson had a mixed start at Tottenham. The Welsh striker arrived at the club from Nottingham Forest on deadline day in September for £47m, a sizeable fee for a player whose first Premier League campaign had been solid, not spectacular. Johnson scored eight goals in 38 league appearances for Forest last season, a decent contribution but perhaps not enough to justify his high price tag. However, Spurs needed a direct and versatile winger to increase their local quota.

Ange Postecoglou wants his wide players to monopolize the touchline and run behind defenses or reach the backline and return the ball to the box. In that sense, Johnson was an ideal acquisition. But Spurs fans were not convinced and his initial form did not look promising.

The 22-year-old probably played more often than he expected earlier in the season. With the Spurs beset by injuries, he relied on Johnson more often than he was prepared for. With Son Heung-min on international duty and James Maddison, Manor Solomon and Richarlison injured at one time or another, Johnson joined the team.

He struggled to adapt, producing just one goal and two assists in his first 14 appearances. The young man started every week but seemed in a bad mood and very out of shape. However, when his teammates returned from injury and he was removed from the spotlight, the penny began to drop for Johnson. He began to have an impact on games from the bench. Against tired legs, Johnson's pace was an important weapon. He scored a vital draw in 3-2 win over Brentford in January and scored the 96th-minute winner in the win over Brighton in February, as well as providing important assists against Crystal Palace and Luton.

Johnson has been lethal off the bench this season, contributing to six goals after coming on, more than any other player in the league. first division. In fact, half of his scoring contributions have come as a substitute.

Crucially, he is now showing that form when picked to start games. His last two goals –in the 4-0 victory at Aston Villa a few weeks ago and 1-1 draw against West Ham Tuesday night – came in the games he started. Johnson has recovered, gained confidence and is shaking off the super sub tag.

It is no coincidence that Johnson's form has improved after Timo Werner joined Tottenham on loan in January. The German's arrival from RB Leipzig means that Spurs can deploy two direct threats on the pitch at the same time. With Werner and Johnson in the team, the Spurs can stretch opposing defenses and create more space.

The couple is also starting to mesh. Johnson assisted on Werner's first goal for the club, in the 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace, and Werner returned the favor by setting up Johnson to score against Brentford and West Ham. The two are developing a mutually beneficial relationship on opposite sides, which is exactly what Postecoglou had in mind when he signed them. Johnson is enjoying the partnership. “I'm understanding his game a lot more and he's understanding mine, so it was nice for him to cut the ball for me to score,” he said after the West Ham game on Tuesday night.

Leaving Johnson out of games was much easier for defenders at the beginning of the season but, now that the Spurs have two fast and incisive players, they can be more direct and open up opposing defenses. Dejan Kulusevski is a useful option for Postecoglou, even if he made a disappointing cameo at West Ham in midweek, but he doesn't offer the same boost in possession as Johnson and Werner. If Spurs want to secure a place in the Champions League next season, they need that attacking verve. Johnson's fee seemed excessive at first, but he is starting to show why the Spurs spent big.