Prolific Wood has Forest flourishing: how an underrated striker sparked a surprise run Premium

Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood shines in Premier League, exceeding expectations with his scoring prowess and all-around play.

Nottingham Forest and its free-scoring striker Chris Wood are proving to be the surprise package of the Premier League season so far.

The 2-0 win over Everton last weekend and Chelsea’s loss to Ipswich Town on Monday meant Forest, which battled against relegation for much of last season, finished 2024 at No. 2 on the Premier League table — its highest position at the end of a year for more than 30 years.

A central figure in Forest’s incredible first half of the 2024-25 season is Wood — an unlikely hero, on the face of it. But look closer and you begin to perceive the 33-year-old New Zealander’s considerable value.

The 6’3” Wood is a centre-forward with many qualities that are associated with the traditional, old-school No. 9. An aerial threat, who can win headers and outmuscle markers, he is a nightmare to defend against in the box when the crosses pour in. 

He can also help his own defence release pressure, serving as a target for hastily hoofed ‘out-balls’. By holding defenders off and protecting the ball, he gives his teammates an opportunity to advance up the pitch; at the very least, he wins them some breathing room. 

But to limit Wood to a lumbering target-man from a bygone era is to do him an injustice. He has many other facets to his game, some of which were evident in the win over Everton. Sean Dyche’s side has proven difficult to break down, as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City discovered during Everton’s run of three consecutive draws, but Wood and Forest found a way. 

For the first goal, Wood nodded down a long ball to Anthony Elanga on the counter-attack, which the Swedish winger headed back into the centre-forward’s path. What followed was exquisite, Wood deftly lifting a delicate lob over the advancing Jordan Pickford. The run in the channel, giving his team an outlet; the vision to first spot Elanga and then control the headed pass; the poise and awareness to find the most efficient finish: this was the work of a first-rate striker.