Johnson hails Forte form

Lee Johnson has attributed the form of Oldham's leading marksman Jonathan Forte to the fact he is enjoying his football once again.

The 28-year-old has bagged 10 goals in 12 fixtures since arriving at SportsDirect.com Park in the summer and he is currently second in the League One top scorers chart behind Chesterfield's Eoin Doyle. It is the first time Forte has ever scored 10 league goals for a team in his entire nomadic career, which has encompassed numerous short-term loan spells as well as permanent stints at Sheffield United, Scunthorpe and Southampton. Forte rarely played for the latter during a three-year spell prior to moving to Latics and Johnson is happy to see him firing again after becoming something of a forgotten man on the south coast. "So far he's been excellent and it's down to him," said Johnson. "He spent a good part of his life frustrated at Southampton not doing anything. Sometimes it doesn't matter how much money you are on - it doesn't bring happiness. "What brings happiness is being valued, performing and being able to look in the mirror and say 'look, I've had a good game today'. I know that from personal experience as a footballer. "It was very important that he's come in, he's a big player for us. He's got extreme pace, is a good finisher and at the moment he's flying - long may it continue." There are likely numerous Championship clubs ruing the fact Forte was allowed to drop two divisions given his eye for a goal at Oldham. And the fact one of his own players is among the division's most lethal forwards is another pleasing aspect to Johnson. He added: "You've got to pick the ones you think are going to have that Paddy Madden season, when he scored 25 goals for Yeovil. "It's nice for us as a club to have someone up in the top goalscorers. Had it not been for Doyle - who's absolutely flying and everything he hits goes in - most years he's the top goal scorer and a lot of them have come from wide. "It shows he's a threat, it shows he's confident and shows the team are giving him chances."