Eddie Johnson believes he is ready to deliver at Fulham and the environment is right to achieve his goals.
Striker happier in Hughes' regime and looking to deliver
Eddie Johnson believes he is ready to deliver at Fulham and the environment is right to achieve his goals.
The American hot-shot joined the Cottagers from Kansas City Wizards in January 2008 and went on to spend the 2008/09 season on loan at Cardiff.
He returned to the Fulham fold last season but found himself as a bit-part player under old boss Roy Hodgson before going out on loan again to Greek side Aris.
But the 26-year-old insists he can now step up at Craven Cottage and he believes his style of play suits new boss Mark Hughes much more than it did Hodgson.
Good environment
"With a new coach coming in my job as a player is to try and impress day-in, day-out, and I'm in a good environment to do that," Johnson said in an
official Fulham magazine.
"A lot of the boys such as myself like to express themselves and that's something that maybe we couldn't do as much with the style we played with Roy, which was more focused on being well organised and playing a lot of one and two-touch football.
"Our new coaches put the emphasis on attack and like players to express themselves ... there are times in a game when you do need to take more than two touches."
Johnson believes it is tough for American players in the Premier League, but he draws inspiration from Clint Dempsey, who has become one of Fulham's star performers since arriving at Craven Cottage in 2007.
Respect
"Being an American it's tough to come over here and do well in such a big league where American players are still fighting for respect," Johnson said.
"I know it was tough for Clint Dempsey when he first came over and he had to fight his way into the team.
"But the club took a chance on me, so now it's time for me to deliver ... I'm at the stage where I should be playing regular first-team football and I feel like, after the loans I've had at Cardiff and in Greece, I'm ready."
