Johnson not a top player yet: Mancini

(GSM) – Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has warned Adam Johnson not to believe his hype.

Mancini believes Johnson, who has become an England regular under Fabio Capello, must focus on improving his game.

Johnson has only started four of City’s 12 Premier League games this season and Mancini insists Johnson has not done enough to be labeled ‘fantastic’.

“England is like Italy,” said Mancini. “When a young player plays five games very well everyone says he is a fantastic player.

“But Adam is young and doesn’t understand [the game] very well. He can improve a lot more if he thinks more when he plays.

“He’s a good player but he’s just 22, he’s only played around 20 games in the Premier League and it’s impossible to think of him now as a top player.

“To achieve this he must think and he must work for the team, not just one or two dribbles or a couple of crosses. In a top team you need more.

“If you’re only doing two dribbles you can’t be the best player on the pitch. You must do dribbling, score a goal, you must defend, you must help your team-mates. There is more expected of him.

“He must keep his feet on the floor and he must stay there. It’s better for him [not starting him] if he wants to improve.

“For me, he’s a good guy, but when you are young you read the newspapers and you can think ‘I am at the top’.

“Adam has the quality to go to the top and stay there but he must improve.”

Meanwhile Johnson admits his frustration at the lack of opportunities under Mancini while paying tribute to the supportive City fans.

“The fans were trying to get me on during the derby, which was great,” said Johnson. “They were brilliant when I was warming up, singing my name.

“It’s frustrating because I started the season so well and my form was really good, but I tend to find myself on the bench.

“I wouldn’t say I’m great with it. I want to be playing all the time. But I’ve just got to get on with it.”