Nottingham Forest have big games in the Europa League and Premier League to come after the international break
Chris Wood in action for Nottingham Forest Under-21s against Newcastle United(Image: Getty)
Nottingham Forest could be in line for a big injury boost ahead of their Europa League quarter-final clash.
The Reds will travel to Portugal when they return to action after the international break. They take on Porto in the first leg of their last-eight tie on April 9, followed by the return leg at the City Ground a week later.
The match at the Estadio do Dragao will mark the start of a crucial run-in for Vitor Pereira’s men as they fight on two fronts. And it could be they have one of their key men available from the off.
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Striker Chris Wood has been sidelined since October with a knee injury and underwent surgery around the turn of the year. He made his comeback for the Under-21s, and scored, last week – and his first first-team appearance could be not too far away.
According to The Telegraph, Forest are targeting Wood being available for the first meeting with Porto in a couple of weeks. The New Zealand international is due to play in a B team friendly against Northampton today.
Head coach Pereira has previously been coy about when Wood might make his return. After last Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, however, he said he was looking forward to working with the front man during the break.
“Now we have time for him to start working with the team and to increase his level and his confidence,” Pereira had said after the full-time whistle in the capital. “I think he will be able to help us in the next games.”
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He had previously said of Wood: “He is important for the group. He is important because he has quality and will score goals. He has the personality to help us.”
Wood finished as the Reds’ top scorer in the league last season as he found the net 20 times. This time around, goals have been an issue for Forest. Morgan Gibbs-White leads the way for the club in the goalscoring stakes with nine in the league, while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus have three apiece.
In addition to looking to continue their continental adventure, the Reds know their battle for Premier League survival is not yet over. They moved three points clear of the drop zone with victory over Spurs and need to build on that as they look to get over the line in their remaining seven games.
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