Chris Wood set for April Nottingham Forest return in boost for All Whites
Chris Wood scored a record 20 Premier League goals for Nottingham Forest last season.
A timeframe for Chris Wood’s return from injury has been set – and it is positive news for the All Whites and their upcoming Fifa World Cup campaign.
The physical status of Wood has become a major preoccupation over recent months, given his all-encompassing influence within the New Zealand team, as a striker, leader and goal-scorer.
Wood hasn’t played since mid-October last year, when he had 16 minutes off the bench for Nottingham Forest against Chelsea.
After a lingering knee issue failed to respond to rest, the 34-year-old had surgery in December, in what was described by then Forest boss Sean Dyche as “a version of a cartilage op”.
Since then there has been regular speculation – both in British and New Zealand media – that Wood may not return this Premier League season, which would put him in major doubt for the World Cup. But there is good news on the horizon.
Sources in England have confirmed to the Herald that Forest are already planning for Wood to be back in action in mid to late April. The club won’t be rushing anything but they are pleased with his progress and rehabilitation.
The Herald has been told that their medical department and football staff had always earmarked a return for the last portion of the season, after the international break, which begins with a match with Aston Villa on April 11. Sources close to New Zealand Football also indicated a similar prognosis, telling the Herald that Wood should be “in the mix” for the last five or six matches of the Premier League season.
For his part, Wood is believed to be pleased with how things are tracking, in what has been a challenging scenario, his longest period on the sidelines since he first arrived in England more than 15 years ago. The new timeframe is heartening for the All Whites – as well as everyone associated with New Zealand Football.
Nothing is guaranteed and there could still be more twists and turns to come, especially around how Wood’s knee responds to the demands of full training sessions and then matches.
But his trajectory – given the insider reports from Forest – suggest he is passing each rehabilitation milestone and bodes well for what is to come.
He won’t make the trip back to New Zealand next month for the Fifa series games against Finland (March 27) and Chile (March 31) at Eden Park but looks set to be on the plane for the biggest journey, to North America in June.
Wood’s importance to the cause can’t be underestimated. He is the hardest player to replace in Darren Bazeley’s squad, simply because there is no one else quite like him. His presence gives his teammates’ confidence and structure and when he is on the field the All Whites have a much sharper attacking edge, illustrated by a record 45 international goals in 88 appearances.
He has also faced the best defenders in the world – over the course of collecting more than 90 Premier League goals – since joining club Burnley in September 2017. While Bazeley and his brains trust will have contingency plans – and put their faith in other forward options – Wood’s presence for the matches against Iran (June 16 NZT), Egypt (June 22) and Belgium (June 27) could be the difference between progressing to the knockout stages or not.
Wood has also been sorely missed at Forest, who are now just two points outside the relegation zone, following last weekend’s home defeat to Liverpool. Forest have scored just 25 goals in 27 League games, the second-lowest in the competition only behind Wolves.
The New Zealander was a huge part of their eye-catching campaign last season, hitting the magical 20-goal mark, as Forest spent much of the season in the top four and eventually finished seventh, to qualify for the Europa League. But they have struggled to get near those standards, not helped by the chaos around the club, as they have burned through three managers and recently appointed a fourth, Portuguese Vitor Pereira.
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.