Watched the Bournemouth vs Forest match yesterday to get a view of Garner, Johnson and Djed Spence.
I thought all three of them struggled a little with the intensity and physicality of such a high-pressure game, but did also show undoubted flashes of quality.
Personally I feel Brennan Johnson clearly has the talent and attitude to be a Premier League player before too long. Whether he is truly a player with elite potential....well, there wasn't a tonne of evidence of that last night, besides one excellent touch and turn. I believe he'll get a move to a lower mid-table team (if Forest don't go up this year or next) and we'll see whether he can kick-on.
Spence I felt will also end-up being a Premier League RB but I did think his defending at times was questionable and it was really his physical attributes and attacking play that stood out. There was one pass in particular to the Forest CF that was real quality, the type a Premier League AM would be proud of, never mind a Championship defender. I could see him ending up at a solid, lower mid-table PL club.
Garner was harder to judge, playing centrally on a tight pitch, in a hostile atmosphere and against a side who really dominated the ball and territory for large parts. I certainly think Garner held his own and contributed, but on this evidence, I think another loan next season might be best, even though it's tempting to think we could use him. Reminds me of a Carrick-type of player who could take that extra year or two to develop.