He said: "There used to be a time when, as a new player coming in over the summer, you could almost be guaranteed to start. But that might not be the case for them.

"The two new lads settled in very well out in America but it is still going to be very difficult for them."

Yes, times have changed, and it will be hard, but there is a feeling around the Forest camp that if the new-lads perform well in training and impress when they're given a chance, that both can figure in Forest's promotion campaign.

Johnson said: "Kris looks a good prospect but he has a mountain to climb because Reidy is in the way.

"Kevin looks good on the right, but both Andy Impey and Matthieu Louis-Jean ended the season very strongly. And Jessy came in and did a good job as well.

"They are going to have to fight for their places. It certainly shows how strong we are in certain departments."

Both youngsters were rated extremely highly at their former respective clubs, and they just need to show some of the promise that they have shown there. The pair will get a chance to do this in tomorrow's friendly with Lincoln City and Sincil Bank.