Nottingham Forest will welcome two Premier League-ready talents into the mix this summer, according to Chris Wood.
Reds fans are yet to get a glimpse of what defender Tyler Bindon and 23-year-old midfielder Marko Stamenic have to offer as the duo are plying their trade out on loan. But Wood knows both of his countrymen well from playing with them for New Zealand and he is convinced they can have a big impact Trentside.
Highly-rated young centre-back Bindon joined Forest on deadline day last month but was loaned back to Reading for the remainder of the campaign. Midfielder Stamenic, meanwhile, put pen to paper from Red Star Belgrade last summer but immediately linked up with Olympiacos.
Wood relishes the possibility of having more Kiwis in English football and specifically at the City Ground. He told New Zealand publication Stuff: "We would love to have more (New Zealanders) consistently playing in the Premier League. Hopefully with the new additions to the Forest squad we will have some of those playing next year in the Premier League or in years to come.
"They are two very good players. They have proven that for their clubs and for the national team as well. But the next stage is then proving it at Forest and showing they are capable of doing it.
“I believe they are capable of doing it, but it's down to them to put their best foot forward and show they are ready for it. Whether that happens, who knows.”
Wood is keen to stress he did not have a hand in either 20-year-old Bindon or Stamenic joining the Reds. He did have good words to say about the pair when asked by the club, but the signings were already far down the line by that point.
"The club looked at them both based on their own merits. When they were further down the line, that's when I've had conversations with people,” said the 33-year-old.
"But they were on their radar and were very much coming to the club when I spoke about them. They are there on their own merits, with what they have done and what they have achieved in their careers. It is another platform for them to build on and hopefully go to new heights. They are both very good players in their own rights.
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“Marko has shown over the years that he's a fantastic midfielder; a very solid box-to-box No.8, works well, scores goals, defends well and works hard. He's got the right capabilities for the Premier League, in my opinion.
"Tyler is another one. He is starting off in his career. He has done extremely well at Reading this year. He's got that calmness about him on the ball.
“He has turned a lot of heads over in the UK and we're lucky enough to have got him at Forest because there was a lot of teams around him. He's got the capabilities of being a Premier League player. It's just down to him to continue to be focused and get there.”
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