Chris Wood reflects on 12-month Newcastle United spell ahead of St James' Park return

Former Newcastle United striker Chris Wood returns to St James’ Park this weekend as one of the Premier League’s most in-form strikers.

Wood joined the Magpies from Burnley for £20million in January 2022 and his 12 months on Tyneside coincided with the club successfully battling relegation before mounting a Champions League qualification charge.

Although Wood was recognised for playing an important part, he didn’t have the goals to show for it, scoring five times in 39 appearances.

With Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson ahead of Wood in the pecking order, United respected the striker’s wish to join Nottingham Forest, which happened on an initial loan deal before he completed a permanent £15m transfer.

And no one could have foreseen Wood’s impact at the City Ground. The 33-year-old has made 69 appearances and scored 34 goals, 18 of which have come during this campaign to put Forest in contention for a Champions League place.

Chris Wood returns to St James’ Park

Wood & Co visit St James’ Park on Sunday with their previous visit still fresh in the memory. Forest won 3-1 on Boxing Day 2023, with Wood going on to claim a hat-trick.

A similar result this time around could go a long way to deciding Forest’s top four fate. Six points separate the two teams in the Premier League table, so the gap will either increase to nine, be reduced to three or, of course, stay the same if it ends in a draw.

Reflecting on his time at Newcastle ahead of returning, Wood told Sky Sports News: “I could see the project Newcastle were trying to build, it was an opportunity to elevate my game and potentially take me to the next step if I scored goals and done well.

“It didn’t work out perfectly but it worked out well, I think. We stayed up, did extremely well and got Champions League the next year. I’m happy to be a part of that and the rebuild of Newcastle. Where they have gone on to is fantastic.”

Eddie Howe ‘delighted’ for Chris Wood

Only Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland have scored more goals than Wood in the league this term, with the New Zealander’s total of 18 putting him one ahead of Newcastle United star Alexander Isak.

When asked about Wood’s form prior to the Magpies’ 3-1 win at the City Ground in November, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe told reporters: “Delighted for Chris on a personal level. For me it was never lost how well he played for us, he did everything but score but his positive performances were so important in our effort to stay in the league, especially in that first season.

“The work he did, the unseen things that bring in other players and I think if you ask his teammates that season they'd say Chris Wood is one of the reasons we changed our position in the league. But he just didn't get the goals that elevated his performances or got the wider world seeing what a transformation he played in our team.

“He was very selfless and very team-orientated which is why he's getting the individual accolades that his goals are bringing him so I'm delighted for him personally. He's a great lad with a great attitude who had a really good time with us so I'm really pleased to see players go on to do well.”