Source: Team_Talk
Johnson's class impresses Laws
Both Laws and Boro manager Gareth Southgate hailed "a special talent" after the 22-year-old inspired his side to an impressive 3-1 win at Hillsborough on Tuesday night, which lifts them into second spot in the Championship.
Johnson's curling first-half cross forced Wednesday skipper Darren Purse to glance the ball beyond goalkeeper Lee Grant to cancel out Owls striker Luke Varney's stunning early opener.
And while forward Jeremie Aliadiere fired his third goal in two matches to edge Boro into the lead three minutes into the second period, Johnson's expertly dispatched third late on underlined why Southgate's side are a class act in the second tier.
Laws, who admitted his own side's promising start to the season had been put in perspective, said: "For their first goal Johnson's whipped in a great ball and our skipper has had to put his head on it.
"Johnson showed his class. Every game that's gone by he's probably been man of the match and he's in fine form.
"He's got pace and an end product and without question he's as effective a player in the Championship that you will ever see.
"At times I thought we dealt well with him, but you've seen the glimpses of his qualities if you give him time and space.
"Take him out of their team and would they be as effective? I doubt it very much.
"So they'll want to keep hold of him because he could be their key player to get them out of this division."
Laws confirmed defender Mark Beevers was up and walking after being stretchered off just before the break.
The young centre-half collided with his goalkeeper but Laws is hopeful he has merely suffered heavy bruising to his shin.
Laws' side take on Sheffield United in the season's first Steel City derby on Friday and the Owls boss was quick to point out the Blades would also be going into the match on the back of a defeat following their 3-2 reverse at Coventry.
Laws added: "Sheffield United have had a tough game tonight, so it goes for both sides.
"We've got to regroup and get ourselves ready and put things in context.
"Middlesbrough have had a flying start to the season and they're going to hurt more teams than most."
Boro manager Southgate is delighted with the early-season form of Johnson following the £10million summer sale of Stewart Downing to Aston Villa.
Southgate said: "Adam is a special talent. There were some moments when he relieved so much pressure by just picking the ball up and beating people.
"He was outstanding. You win on a team performance and it had to be gritty and resilient, but a couple of moments of class from Adam and Jeremie have won us the game."
Southgate, who completed the loan signing of Sean St Ledger from Preston earlier in the day in time for the Republic of Ireland defender to make the bench, confirmed he is now hoping to draft in a new striker.
