Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood is poised to make his long-awaited return to the squad after a challenging six-month injury absence, providing a significant boost ahead of the club's Europa League quarter-final clash in Porto.
The 34-year-old forward, who has been sidelined since October and underwent knee surgery in December, has traveled with the team to Portugal for Thursday's crucial first leg. Wood's return comes at a pivotal moment for Forest, who are simultaneously battling for Premier League survival and pursuing European glory.
Manager Vitor Pereira confirmed Wood's availability, stating: "He has started to train with the team. He is available for the game. He is working with us, we need to manage him a little bit physically, but he has traveled. It means he is available to be in the game tomorrow."
Pereira emphasized Wood's value to the squad, adding: "He is an experienced player, he scores goals, and it's important to be ready for the team in this moment because we face a lot of challenges."
Wood's absence has been keenly felt by Forest. Last season, the New Zealand international delivered a career-best performance with 20 Premier League goals, contributing significantly to the club's seventh-place finish. His 34.8% share of Forest's 58 league goals highlighted his importance as the team's primary attacking threat.
This season has been more challenging for Wood, with just four goals in 13 appearances during an injury-disrupted campaign. His only Premier League goals came on the opening day against Brentford.
The statistics underscore Wood's impact on Forest's performance. In the 67 games Wood has started since joining the club in January 2023, Forest have won 25 times (37.3% win rate) with an average of 1.4 points per game. In contrast, during the 59 games without him starting, the team has won just 15 times (25.4% win rate) with 1.0 points per game.
Wood has been gradually building his fitness through appearances with Forest's Under-21 side, including scoring in a 3-0 victory over Newcastle last month.
His return coincides with Forest's most critical period of the season. The club is attempting to reach a European semi-final for the first time in 42 years while also fighting to maintain their Premier League status. Currently, Forest sit just three points above the relegation zone with seven matches remaining.
Pereira acknowledged the balancing act required: "The priority is to win the next game and the next game is tomorrow. The Europa League is very important and it is very important to keep the club in the Premier League. I need to find the balance between the two competitions."
Wood last featured for Forest under former manager Ange Postecoglou and missed Sean Dyche's brief tenure before Pereira's appointment in February. His experience and goal-scoring ability could prove decisive as Forest navigate their dual challenges in the coming weeks.