By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 17:08 EDT, 16 April 2026 | Updated: 17:08 EDT, 16 April 2026
NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) - Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood was forced out of Thursday's Europa League quarterfinal game against Porto with a knee injury in what also could be a concern for New Zealand's World Cup plans.
The New Zealand captain was struck on the right knee by Jan Bednarek's high kick, which resulted in a red card for the Porto defender in the eighth minute.
Wood, who only recently returned from a six-month absence because of a knee injury, had played on before needing treatment in the 15th minute. He was then substituted off.
The extent of the injury wasn't immediately clear.
The 34-year-old Wood scored 20 goals last season for Forest, which is in a relegation battle in the Premier League.
New Zealand plays in Group G at the World Cup in two months. The "All Whites" are scheduled to face Iran, Egypt and Belgium.
FILE - New Zealand's Chris Wood, left, and Costa Rica's Oscar Duarte fightduring the World Cup 2022 qualifying play-off soccer match between New Zealand and Costa Rica in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Hussein Sayed, File)
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup