Chris Wood reveals the Premier League points total Newcastle United are aiming to reach

Chris Wood admits Premier League safety is within touching distance as he eyes reaching the 40-point mark.

The striker’s 72nd-minute penalty earned Newcastle United a big three points against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night, extending their advantage over the relegation zone to 10 points.

It was the New Zealand international’s second goal - his first at St James’ Park - in a Magpies shirt since his £25million January arrival from Burnley.

Although 35 points has been enough to keep a team in the top-flight for nine of the last 10 seasons, meaning United would require just a point from their remaining seven games - Wood wants to hit the ‘magic’ total.

Only then can Newcastle start building towards an exciting future, with relegation battles, hopefully, a thing of the past once the current campaign comes to an end.

“It is fantastic,” Wood said after the game. “There is something about playing in front of St James’ Park and we want to get them up for it. Luckily we did.

“It helps when you play those teams you do well against. It is always good to score as a striker but ultimately we need points to get out of relegation battle and to build next season. It is getting closer.

“We want this club to go to the next level. We need to get to 40 points and then build.”

Wood was denied the opener midway through the first-half when VAR spotted an offside on Bruno Guimaraes in the build-up, though the 30-year-old bounced back to win and convert the spot-kick.

“I looked back at it and it was just offside,” Wood said. It’s just one of those things that happen. Bit gutting for me as I would have loved it as well but in the end , we got the right result and goal.

“My job as a striker is to embrace and challenge myself. I’ve done it many times over my career and I need to do it, again, again and again when I get the opportunity because these are vital and critical moments.

“It’s nice to get off the mark at St James’ (Park). It’s been a while coming.

“The chances haven’t been free-flowing for me but it’s nice to be able to stick the ball in the back of the net.”