Chris Wood has become a prolific target man at Nottingham Forest, but one former teammate has revealed that he wasn’t always the physical striker we know now.
Sunday’s clash with Newcastle United sees Wood return to St James Park, a ground that he used to call home before his move to the City Ground.
Eddie Howe reflected fondly on Wood’s time at Newcastle as the Kiwi international was a crucial focal point for Howe’s side upon surviving relegation, but the goals never flowed as they now do under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Wood’s 18 Premier League goals could be added to on Sunday as Sven Botman is injured for Newcastle, leaving a makeshift defence to attempt to tame Forest’s in-form hitman.
There’s a general sense that the footballing world is fully behind the Kiwi in the autumn of his career as Howe expressed his delight over Wood’s form, but a recent interview with one of Wood’s former teammates has revealed that he wasn’t always the focal point he is now.
Glenn Murray on the development of ‘timid’ Chris Wood
In a career spanning 19 years, English football cult hero Glenn Murray actually finished his career at Forest, playing six months under Chris Hughton in 2021.
Murray is most famous for his time at Brighton, though, where he came across a young Wood who was on loan at the Seagulls in the 2010/11 season.
In an interview with The i Paper, Murray was brutally honest about Wood at Brighton but from a place of recognising his potential. Murray said: “Well Chris was only a baby, but he was massive! He’s always had that stature. He was such a nice kid.
“As someone that came up the lower leagues, I’m not overly big or strong but I was clever with my body to the best of my ability, whereas Chris was just huge.
“He was for want of a better word, a little bit soft, he didn’t quite know how to use it, and I was like, ‘Honestly, with your attributes and your size, you could be bullying people, I’d love to have your stature because people would just bounce off me and I’d throw them around.’
“I would tell him. ‘Come on, you’re big, strong, if you engage no one can live with you. It’s a real attribute you’re lucky to have.’ He kind of got it. He understood, but he was quite shy and timid at that age which is totally understandable.”
Clearly learning from Murray, Wood was praised by Thomas Frank for leading the line against Brentford alongside his goals, making his former Brighton teammate very proud.
Glenn Murray “isn’t surprised” by Chris Wood’s resurgence
Continuing the interview, Murray took time to acknowledge how far Wood has come, form that has not taken the Englishman by surprise.
Murray said: “It isn’t surprising, like myself he’s developed into a Premier League striker and feels confident at that level, and when a chance comes he’s got that ability to put it away. And he believes in that ability now.
“I think those around in him believe in him too. That takes time to build those connections. I also feel the team at Forest are really set up to play to his strengths.
“Rather than thinking, when that chance comes, you know you’ll take it and gobble it up. You can see that with Chris.”
Wood signed a new Forest contract in January to secure his future at the City Ground, where he’ll hope to continue to show the likes of Murray how much he has developed since he was younger.
Receive a digest of our best Nottingham Forest content each week direct to your mailbox
