'We can't wait for BS3 return'

His team are set for Saturday's task against Nottingham Forest (3pm kick-off), following a successful pre-season which saw his players stretched both mentally and physically.

The players have come out the other side from that tough training regime and most recently put their work into practice with an excellent display against the Premier League's AFC Bournemouth.

But preparations this week have been focussed on Aitor Karanka's Forest, who head to Ashton Gate for the 2018/19 Sky Bet Championship season opener.

"I am expecting a brilliant game, it will be end to end and entertaining," Johnson told bcfc.co.uk.

"They [Forest] are a good possession side, as are we, and we have to do our very best to prize them open and pick holes in their defence but I feel we are ready.

"We couldn’t have done any more and the players are chomping at the bit to get out on the home turf.

“The Championship, in my opinion, is the most competitive league in the world and I am excited to come up against all the other managers and teams, in particularly at home and getting some wins under our belt and sending everyone home happy.”

More than 20,000 tickets have been sold for the season opener, making it the club's largest attendance for an opening day home fixture since the stadium redevelopment.

The encounter at Ashton Gate is a gold category match, with prices starting at £28 for adult members and tickets remain on general sale.

City v Forest - Tickets