Chris Wood: Nottingham Forest sign Newcastle striker on loan until end of season

Chris WoodImage source, Reuters
Image caption,

Chris Wood has scored three goals in 22 appearances for Newcastle this season

Nottingham Forest have signed Newcastle striker Chris Wood on loan until the end of the season.

The deal includes an option to make the transfer permanent until 2024.

The New Zealand international, 31, moves after a year at Newcastle, who he joined from Burnley for £25m.

"Nottingham Forest is a massive club which I have come up against a number of times, but it's nice now to be able to pull on the red shirt and fight for the club," he said.

"It's a great feeling and I am very thankful to be here.

"You can see the transition over the past 18 months and it's progressing in the right way."

Wood, who helped Newcastle avoid relegation last season, has played 18 games in the league this campaign, scoring twice, but has only made four starts.

Earlier on Friday, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said there were "no guarantees" the Magpies would replace Wood but failing to do so would leave them "dangerously short" of players.

"Hopefully [we are] planning to replace him," Howe said.

"I don't think we will replace Chris with another Chris if that makes sense. [That] type of player I don't think is in the market.

"He was what we needed at this time last year. He was a focal point for us and enabled us to play in a way to take the pressure off players.

"We aren't necessarily looking for that type of player but we will see what we can do."

Forest boss Steve Cooper has been keen to add reinforcements in January, despite an influx of new arrivals last summer when the club set a new British record by making 22 signings following their promotion to the Premier League.

Wood follows the signing of midfielders Danilo and Gustavo Scarpa during the current window.

Forest, who have reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, are 13th in the Premier League and five points above the relegation zone.

However, they have scored just 15 goals in 19 games, with only Wolves having a lower tally in front of goal.

Image source, BBC Sport
Image source, BBC Sport

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