DJ Says ‘No Way.’

The Nottingham Forest striker is still recovering from the back operation that kept him out for the majority of last season.

But following suggestions over the weekend that he was set to call time on his career, the 30-year-old insists he still has a future in the game.

He said: ‘I’m waiting to step up to more training. I’m taking my time, but I’m joining in with the lads in training now.

‘I’ve not set any targets yet. I tried that last time and I’m still getting back to fitness now.’

Confusion over Johnson’s future surfaced after he failed to take part in a testimonial for former Ipswich team-mate Richard Naylor over the weekend.

The match day programme even claimed he was about to retire, but he insisted that was not the case.

‘It is not true that I have retired,’ he said. ‘I read in the programme that I had and that is why I couldn’t play, but the truth is I have not played for Forest yet so I couldn’t play there. So Forest fans can expect to see me back. I’m still working on getting fit and will be fine.’

Johnson has been working alongside fellow injured striker Scott Dobie throughout the summer.

He was expected to be pushing for a return in the early part of the season but so far has not even featured for the reserves.

He is in good company on the sidelines, with Nathan Tyson ruled out for months with knee ligament damage and Dobie only just returning to reserve team action following a hip operation.

Not that any of this has affected Forest’s start to the season. They have won five out of six league games and sit three points clear at the top of League One.

Johnson said: ‘Forest are doing well. We are top of the table and the new manager is doing a really good job. I hope to be available to him.’

Sourced from the NEP.