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Nuno Espírito Santo drops honest verdict on Chris Wood amid Nottingham Forest goal scoring struggles

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Nuno Espirito Santo has spoken on Chris Wood’s form after the striker again failed to back of the net versus Crystal Palace.

A number of Forest players disappointed at Selhurst Park, with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White earning criticism from fans.

Forest even had to rely on a deflected Murillo goal to rescue a point, as Espirito Santo’s side failed to create in the final third.

Wood, in particular, had a very quiet evening, with the New Zealand international failing to muster a single shot on target against Palace.

Having now gone goalless in seven of his last eight Premier League matches, Wood’s form is starting to be questioned.

Crystal Palace FC v Nottingham Forest FC - Premier League
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images

Nuno Espirito Santo speaks on Chris Wood form

With 19 league goals to his name, Wood has received widespread praise for his contribution this season.

The striker’s goal-scoring antics have dried up in recent weeks, however, something which has coincided with Forest’s poor run of form.

City Ground boss Espirito Santo was questioned on the 33-year-old’s recent struggles in front goal, post-match versus Palace.

“It is not only Chris, it is all the team. In these last three games we are going to need them all, and we are going to need the best of each one of them.

“Offensive players and strikers, it is very difficult to sustain (form). But we cannot take away what Chris has been giving to us – it is huge. It is magnificent,” via NottinghamshireLive.

Tottenham Hotspur FC v Nottingham Forest FC - Premier League
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images

Forest need to sign long-term Wood replacement

Wood has played a huge role in Forest’s surge up the Premier League table this season, but his recent struggles may be a sign of what’s to come.

At 33 years old, it’s fair to say that the striker is nearing the end of his prime, which suggests Evangelos Marinakis would be wise to invest in a new goalscorer this summer.

Forest’s last eight Premier League gamesGoalsAssists
Chris Wood11

Forest’s interest in Darwin Nunez and Matheus Cunha’s City Ground links tells us that the club recognise the potential problem at hand.

Taking this account as well as Taiwo Awoniyi’s recent struggles, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see striker reinforcements arrive in the summer.