Nottingham Forest will have everything crossed the injury sustained by striker Chris Wood is not a serious one as they prepare for their return to action.
The Reds ace was forced off in the 54th minute of New Zealand’s World Cup qualifier against New Caledonia on Monday night. Reports have suggested he hurt his hip when swivelling for a shot.
Wood received some treatment but soon made way and was spotted applying an ice pack to his hip after he had hobbled off. All Whites boss Darren Bazeley gave little away about the nature of the problem and the forward himself was not asked about it in a post-match interview he did with the official YouTube channel of the Oceania Football Confederation.
“Not sure (of the problem) yet, we’ll speak to the physios. It was when he had that chance and nearly scored, which is a shame,” Bazeley said.
“It’s not great for us losing our captain and our goalscorer. It was a difficult thing for the team but they came through so well.”
Wood has been integral for Forest this season. He is top scorer for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side with 18 Premier League goals so far this term.
Even the slightest of injury scares will be a concern given the Reds have nine Premier League games remaining as they look to clinch Champions League qualification. And before their return to league action, they have a big FA Cup quarter-final away to Brighton and Hove Albion to come on Saturday (5.15pm kick-off).
Regardless of his fitness, it might be that Wood was not in head coach Nuno’s starting XI thoughts for the weekend anyway. The Portuguese has tended to shuffle his pack in the FA Cup and has started Taiwo Awoniyi in each of the previous rounds of the tournament.
It hasn’t been a particularly easy campaign for the former Union Berlin man. Missing a chunk of pre-season hindered him and left him playing catch-up in terms of his fitness and sharpness.
Not getting regular minutes has made it tough for Awoniyi to really get going. With Wood having been on fire this term, he has generally had to settle for making an impact in the final minutes from off the bench in league games - never easy for a forward.
However, Nuno has consistently expressed a belief Awoniyi is capable of getting back to his best. He has always stressed the 27-year-old would have a role to play for the Reds.
“He can absolutely get back (to that previous level). Yes, absolutely. Because he shows it every day,” Nuno said earlier this year.
“He works very hard and we cannot forget the importance of Taiwo to Forest and the history of what he has done for the club. I was fortunate enough to see many of the games that Taiwo was involved in and his performance level was very high. I am absolutely confident that he will get back to that.
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“He has to be ready, whether it is minute one or minute 90 that he is involved. The other part is mentality. I am sure he is totally focused and committed to the club.”
If Forest are without Wood for any period of time, Awoniyi would be the man to step in. It might be Nuno had earmarked him to do just that against Brighton anyway.
The Nigerian is a different type of player to Wood but the Reds could still stick with their usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi could provide attacking support for Awoniyi in the same way as they do for the New Zealander.
If Wood does miss any games, Nuno could still find a way of tweaking things if he needs to. Elanga and Jota Silva are capable of filling in up front, if required.
Previous XIs without Wood offer examples of line-ups Nuno could consider - be it for Saturday or beyond that. After all, Forest are in Premier League action only a few days after the cup tie as they host Manchester United next Tuesday (April 1, 8pm kick-off).
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How Forest have lined up without Wood this season…
Forest XI at home to Newcastle United in Carabao Cup (August 2024, 1-1 AET, lost 4-3 on penalties): Miguel; Moreira, Omobamidele, Boly, Abbott, Moreno; Anderson, Dominguez; Jota, Awoniyi, Sosa.
Forest XI away to Arsenal in Premier League (November 2024, lost 3-0): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Ward-Prowse, Dominguez; Elanga, Yates, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi.
Forest XI at home to Luton Town in FA Cup (January 2025, won 2-0): Miguel; Moreira, Boly, Morato, Toffolo, Moreno; Yates, Ward-Prowse; Jota, Awoniyi, Sosa.
Forest XI away to Exeter City in FA Cup (February 2025, 2-2 AET, won 4-2 on penalties): Miguel; Moreira, Boly, Toffolo, Moreno; Sangare, Yates; Jota, Danilo, Sosa; Awoniyi.
Forest XI at home to Ipswich Town in FA Cup (March 2025, 1-1 AET, won 5-4 on penalties): Sels; Aina, Morato, Murillo, Moreno; Sangare, Yates; Elanga, Danilo, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi.
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