Chris Wood Reflects on Career Journey and Current Form at Nottingham Forest
Chris Wood, the 32-year-old striker for Nottingham Forest, has been enjoying a stellar season, contributing eight of the club’s 15 league goals so far. As he continues to shine in the spotlight, Wood’s response to the recent positive headlines reveals the wisdom gained from a career that has spanned 12 English clubs, including Burnley, Leeds, Leicester, and Newcastle.
Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of Saturday’s home match against Ipswich, Wood reflected on his journey, saying, “If you go up one side of the mountain, you are going to have to eventually come down the other side.” He went on to explain that it’s not just about constant success, but about managing the lows and bouncing back stronger. “It’s about making coming down the other side as small as possible to bounce back up and make a new mountain. Mentality is huge in sport and in football,” Wood added. “You go through mountains and waves throughout the season. It’s not just about skyrocketing. It’s not always going to be plain sailing. There are ups and downs, and you have to ride with them.”
Wood, who netted 14 league goals last season, has continued his impressive form under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo. The striker became the first Forest player to win the Premier League Player of the Month award in October and is closing in on Bryan Roy’s club record of 24 Premier League goals. Since joining Forest, Wood has scored 19 goals in 28 top-flight appearances.
Wood’s journey with Forest has seen him thrive under the guidance of Nuno, who he describes as a manager who values and understands his playing style. “You have to find where you are appreciated,” Wood said, speaking at Forest’s training ground. “Managers have their own style, and you might not always be in the right place for them. I’m not someone who’s going to beat two or three players and score a screamer. I rely on service, and if that’s not coming, I can’t score. Fortunately, under Nuno, I’ve found the right fit.”
Having been loaned out six or seven times early in his career, Wood knows the importance of being valued and fitting into a team dynamic. He reflected on how the experiences helped him understand that success isn’t just about individual performance—it’s about how you connect with the team. “It’s not always about you as a person or player, it’s how you connect and build with a team,” he said. “A lot of it is out of your control.”
Under Nuno’s leadership, Forest has stabilized after a tumultuous 2023-24 season, avoiding relegation despite a points deduction and other controversies. Wood has been key to their survival, including a memorable hat-trick against Newcastle and a double on the final day to secure survival and relegate his former club, Burnley.
Wood has been in outstanding form, with only Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer having scored more Premier League goals than him since Christmas. Reflecting on his current form, Wood acknowledged that this may be the best stretch of his career. “Definitely, it’s worked well so far, and hopefully there’s a lot more to come. I’ve had a lot of great managers, but it’s nice to add another one to the list,” he said. “Nuno came in, gave me confidence, and put me in the team from the start. It’s spiraled from there.”
Despite a difficult 12-month spell at Newcastle under Eddie Howe, Wood has proven himself as a reliable Premier League forward, with a record of 53 goals in 165 appearances for Burnley and an impressive 77 goals in 239 top-flight games overall. He hopes to continue adding to his tally as he approaches the 100-goal milestone.
With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Wood remains focused on scoring goals and helping Forest succeed, rather than worrying about his future. “Whenever it happens, it happens. It’s not something I can control or worry about,” he said. “I just have to focus on doing well for this club.”
Wood also has ambitions to play for as long as possible and believes maintaining his fitness off the pitch is key. “It’s how you take care of your body and nutrition off the pitch. That’s huge. I want to play for as long as I can.”
