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Sport Nation
How winning Nuno's trust has transformed Chris Wood at Nottingham Forest
Logan Swinkels • February 3rd, 2025 11:39 am
Photo: Nottingham Forest
Chris Wood is having the kind of career-year with Nottingham Forest that arguably most strikers could only dream of in their thirties.
At the time of publishing, the New Zealand All Whites captain is currently tied for third in the English Premier League's goal-scoring race with 17, just two behind Manchester City's Erling Haaland, and four behind leader Mo Salah of Liverpool (21).
Speaking with Riccardo Ball on Sport Nation Mornings, Forest great Garry Birtles admires what Wood is achieving this season, thanks to the supportive team environment that manager Nuno Santo is fostering at Nottinghamshire's City Ground.
"Chris bided his time, and now he's got a manager who believes in him and picks him. He scores all sorts of goals, he's not predictable. He scores headers, tap-ins, he can score from outside the box, and his work rate is just so impressive for the team."
With a win-loss-draw record of 14-5-5 after 24 matches, Nottingham Forest currently sit third on the EPL table behind Arsenal and Liverpool. A top-four finish will see Wood's club qualify for the UEFA Champions League, a fifth place finish will see them in the Europa League.
Birtles himself won titles with Forest in 1979 and 1980 when it was known as the European Cup.
Wood originally came to the club on loan from Newcastle United in 2023 after limited first-team opportunities, transferring permanently in June that year.
The now 33-year-old is repaying the faith shown by club management with his on-field performance, named Premier League Player of the Month for October 2024, and now extended to 2027, Wood isn't showing any signs of slowing down yet.
"When a striker gets to that age, you think that might be coming to the end of his sell-by date," Birtles said.
"But he's proved again and again what a terrific player he is. It's just a joy to watch - the team are so united."
As a striker himself who played 212 matches for Forest across two stints, tallying 70 goals, Birtles knows all too well how important it is to have a manager's trust and what creating the right system can do to allow goal-scorers to flourish at the top level of English football.
"His all-round game is so impressive. Strikers thrive on the supply (of ball) they get, and Nuno has got the players in there that can feed what Chris Wood needs."
Listen to the full interview below:
