Johnson denies getting deliberately booked

BIRMINGHAM midfielder Damien Johnson has slammed claims by radio commentator Alan Green he got himself deliberately booked when playing for Northern Ireland against England to avoid travelling to Poland for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier.

Commentating for Radio 5 Live on last Saturday’s game at Old Trafford when Johnson was yellow carded in the 50th minute of his country’s 4-0 defeat, Green said “an insider” told him Johnson would get a booking.

Johnson said: “I would never get deliberately booked to miss a game. I can just chuckle on about it because it is so absurd.”