Brennan Johnson is about to reach his 50th appearance for the Welsh national team.

This Saturday, Everton striker Brennan Johnson, 25, will make his 50th appearance for the national team in Wales' UEFA Nations League match against Norway.

This milestone will make Johnson the third youngest player in Welsh history to achieve this feat, after Ampadu and Chris Gunter.

Although Wales unfortunately missed out on this World Cup, the confirmation of Cardiff as one of the host cities for Euro 2028 has given the team tremendous motivation. Speaking about this goal, Johnson said in an interview, "Even just thinking about the Euros being held here makes it incredibly special."

“We have an excellent squad, with many players maintaining a high level of performance. Everyone knows that the major tournament is coming up, which motivates us to work even harder to showcase our strength.”

Looking back on his 50 national team appearances, Johnson, who represented England's youth teams and ultimately chose to play for Wales in 2018, said with deep feeling: "I felt a strong sense of belonging as soon as I arrived in Wales and have never regretted the decision."

"Before I knew it, 50 matches had quietly arrived. Making it to the World Cup has been my dream since I was a child, and the 2022 World Cup and the experience of advancing through the playoffs were definitely highlights."

When asked about the confidence they drew from the semi-finalists of Euro 2016, Johnson said, "The achievements of those predecessors make you believe that anything is possible, and we hope to continue this momentum and do our best to improve the team's level."

At the club level, Johnson has experienced many ups and downs, from being a key player in Nottingham Forest's promotion to Tottenham for £47.5 million and scoring the winning goal in the Europa League final to end a 17-year title drought, to joining Everton this summer.

Johnson remains ambitious: "There is definitely more to look forward to in the future, and I am excited about the next few years. I am satisfied with my current achievements, but I am eager to achieve more in the future, especially with the Welsh national team."

Image source: Internet/BBC official website