Chris Wood: Nottingham Forest striker rivalling Mo Salah and Erling Haaland in Premier League after rise from New Zealand | Football News happymamay

After playing at the level of football in New Zealand at the age of 15, Chris Wood moved to England when he was 16 years old, and in two years, he first appeared in the Premier League with West Brom under the leadership of Tony Mogabrie in 2009.

Although he played regularly in the following season as West Brom was transferred to the tournament, as soon as he was promoted again, Wood found that he had to go to another place to play a fixed minutes.

This kiwi pushed an incredible three -year period as he played on loan six different clubs – ranging from Parinsley to the southern coast in Brighton, returning to Midlands in Birmingham, a talisman in the West in the city To find himself in Midlands in Leicester – the club to which he will join permanently.

“I just wanted to see the country!” Judging wood. “This player who I am today made me because I learned different things from different clubs and the experience that came with them.

“I went to where football was, Barnesley was a difficult time, then we went to Brighton and won in the first league – they spent a great time.

“He played with Birmingham and then went to Bristol City to try to get more game time – but all different situations and scenarios – they were all great on their individual way.”

A turning point in Leeds

A few years later in Leicester, Wood joined Leeds in 2015 incredibly, despite this long journey that took him throughout England, the attacker was still 23 years old.

“I needed to go to Leeds to play a more consistent football. When I was in the Premier League with Leicester, I played only seven games – I needed to go and get more game time,” Wood said.

Wood had two managers in his first season with UWE Rosler and Steve Evans, but when former coach Garry Monk and EX -ENGLAND JAMES Beatie joined the club who has enjoyed the best season so far – where he scored 27 goals in 44 games in 44 games in the championship.

“When Gary Monk and James Betty came, there was a change in the guard from the former director.

“Beattie had a great impact on my career. There were times when fans were most likely on my back at the beginning of the season, but James really helped me get out of the stadium, work on my mental strength and know that you can get through anything.

“This is what helped me and put me in my best season. It was because of my help and giving me the tools to be able to flourish on the field.”

“He was actually playing one striker, a focal point for the team,” explained my home.

“He was frustrated because he did not see the ball as much as he wanted and thought he was not contributing – but he was much.

“If you fell in the midfield and flog everything, the patterns will not come and you will not be able to finish the opportunities – it took some time but it was in the end and its willingness to listen and listen to me.

Burnley and consistency

You can tolerate the thinking that wood is just showing its consistency at the highest level of English football.

When he joined Burnley for about 15 million pounds in 2017, the Clarets record was at the time but in time, he showed more than its value to the side.

Returning to the Premier League seven years after his first appearance, Wood was of great importance in maintaining Burnley in the lead in the following five seasons.

“I had a great five years there and scored a lot of goals and achieved a lot – to enter the European League with Burnley and such things – we have done well with 18 boys stuck together for five years,” Wood said.

He achieved more than 10 goals in each of its first four seasons in the club and established an effective duo with the Ashley Barnes strike partner.

Wood described his time with Barnes as “risking”, but is the latter, who recently joined Claritz, feels the same?

“We had this connection,” Barnes was reflected in his time with wood.

“We were just making the opposite movements all the time and it was just killing these defenders – we can carry the ball and run a successor.

“It was just a combination and match of movements, and this is why we have succeeded a lot.

“He can find the network wherever – it’s great. We have a great relationship on and outside the stadium and I am still talking to him now.”

Nottingham, Nuno and a touch of inheritance

After a year in Newcastle and the chances of the first team are somewhat limited, Wood joined Forest in January 2023.

Only seven times appeared in the second half of that season after he picked up a thigh injury, which she acquired for the rest of the season.

Although he appeared under the leadership of the former coach in Forest Steve Cooper, the production of his goal increased significantly when Nuno Espereto Santo’s President was appointed in December 2023.

“Nuno gave me confidence to be his ninth number and start, then we started playing more positively with more attacking creativity,” Wood said.

“While at the beginning of the season, we may have been a little more defensive – I think the game that Nuno brought is really suitable for the way I play.”

As his former high school coach, Mike, said the international groom in New Zealand about the influence of Wood on his homeland: “When they talk about Mo Saah and Erling Haland – they mention Chris Wood at the same time – you cannot compete however.

“It is a play, it is magic, it is things of dreams and dreams of children fed by those images and exposure.

“We are still a country playing the rugby, but Chris alone started changing it.”

Wood has not become a prolific strike in the Premier League but also the top scorer in New Zealand, a leader, who is very close to breaking the record to appear in his country.

If you had told 16 -year -old when he arrived in England for the first time about his career, did he think what he could achieve so far?

“I definitely exceeded what I dreamed of when I was a child and I hope I can get a lot that I can achieve to make it a better dream,” Wood said.

“I want to keep the road open to New Zealands in the hope that they will be in the Premier League one day – I want to plant this generation of new children who want to play football and desire the biggest league.”

Watch Newcastle Vs Nottingham Forest on Sunday on the air on Sky SPORTS, Kick-FF 2 pm