Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Chris Wood's only Premier League goals this season came on the opening day against Brentford
ByNick Mashiter in PortoFootball reporter- Published1 hour ago
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Striker Chris Wood will end his six-month injury lay-off by returning to the Nottingham Forest squad in Porto.
The 34-year-old has been sidelined since October and had knee surgery in December but has travelled to Portugal for the first leg of Forest's Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.
He scored 20 goals as Forest finished seventh in the Premier League last season but has managed just four in 13 games during an injury-hit campaign.
Boss Vitor Pereira said: "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 travelled. It means he is available to be in the game tomorrow.
"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 last played for Forest when Ange Postecoglou was in charge and was unavailable during Sean Dyche's 114-day reign before Pereira replaced him in February.
The New Zealand international has made two appearances for Forest's Under-21 side as he stepped up his recovery, including scoring in a 3-0 win over Newcastle last month.
Wood's importance to Forest clear
Wood's career-best goal haul last season underlined his importance to Forest.
They scored 58 league goals in the league - averaging 1.42 per game, with Wood providing 34.8% of them. This season, they have scored 31 times in 31 league games - a one goal per game average - with Wood scoring just twice on the opening day.
Since his arrival at the City Ground in January 2023, Forest have played 67 games in which Wood has started, winning 25 times, and 59 games in which he has not, winning 15 times.
Forest's win percentage with him starting is 37.3% with a points-per-game rate of 1.4, while it is 25.4% without him with a points-per-game of 1.0.
He returns with Forest fighting to reach a European semi-final for the first time in 42 years while they also battle for Premier League survival.
Forest are three points above the relegation zone with seven games left after last month's vital win at Tottenham.
Pereira said: "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. This is the only way; the only way to compete tomorrow and again in three days' time against Aston Villa.
"The players have to feel they are important and have the qualities and conditions to compete and to help the club in this moment."
