Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest | England)

Forest host Liverpool.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/liverpool-lId4TMwf/nottingham-UsushcZr/?mid=bivQP1C6

Liverpool get a 97th min winner for 1-0.

Europa League R16, 2nd leg.
Forest up 3-0 after the first leg, host Fenerbahce.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/fenerbahce-MsbmracL/nottingham-UsushcZr/?mid=25ceSfOh

Nottingham Forest’s Drop-Off in Front of Goal Shows How Much They’re Missing Chris Wood | Opta Analyst https://share.google/tbASKZeRaPxDfDGXj

Forest lose 1-2 to Fenerbahce but win Europa League playoff tie overall 4-2.

Good news from the Herald, although paywalled, so cant get into it but the headline is:
Chris Wood set for April Nottingham Forest return in boost for All Whites

hepatitis

Good news from the Herald, although paywalled, so cant get into it but the headline is:
Chris Wood set for April Nottingham Forest return in boost for All Whites

Get a subscription and tell us please 

The heading says it all, mid April is the target and the rest of the article is padding including the obvious statement that he won't be flying back for the All Whites March games.

From Darren Bazeley, to me yesterday, as included here

"I don't think there's a specific date. I think there's target areas. That's always been the target zone – that Chris gets back in April to play in the Premier League and hopefully score goals for Forest and then be fully fit for the World Cup. That's always been the plan.”

Forest (17th) travel to Brighton (14th)

https://www.nottinghamforest.news/2026/03/01/when-chris-wood-could-return-to-nottingham-forest-team-and-what-vitor-pereira-has-said-about-him/

Pereria was asked about Wood in his pre-Brighton press conference and said he’s ‘working hard’ behind the scenes to get back to where he needs to be fitness wise.

Alarming Wood stat emerges for Forest
No Forest striker has scored a goal in the Premier League at the City Ground since Wood on the opening day of the campaign.

That stat is alarming to say the very least, and it’s important that people step up in his absence to drag Forest over the line to avoid relegation.

Thankfully, his recovery is now cranking up and hopefully, the season can end with Wood scoring the required goals to keep the Reds in the Premier League before jetting off to the World Cup.

Forest lose 2-1 at Brighton.
They are 2 pts ahead of the Hammers in the relegation dogfight 

Thursday, Forest travel to Man City.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/nottingham-UsushcZr/?mid=jHyOcnOk

2-2 draw.
Next for Forest hosting Denmark's Midtjylland 1st leg, in the Europa League R32.

Back in action this morning for the U21's v Newcastle.

45 minutes and a goal for his efforts.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2035071777768956313

https://twitter.com/i/status/2035071777768956313

Feels like we needed to see this kind of progress before the fast approaching end of the English football season.

The Forum is back. Yay. Well done Nik.
Chris Wood plays a football game. Double Yay.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/03/21/all-whites-captain-chris-wood-scores-in-his-first-game-for-five-months/

New Zealand striker Chris Wood has made a surprise return to the pitch, scoring a goal in his first competitive match since injuring his knee in October.

Wood made his return playing for Nottingham Forest’s reserves in their 3-0 win against Newcastle United U-21s at Loughborough University Stadium on Saturday (NZT).

Starting up front for Forest, Wood put his side ahead against his former club with a close-range header after he met a James Sinclair cross in the 11th minute.

Wood played 45 minutes before being replaced at half-time.

The appearance by Wood backs up speculation that the 88-cap All White could soon return to Forest’s first team to help them in their battle to avoid relegation from the English Premier League.

Wood has been working outdoors recently but has yet to rejoin the squad in full training sessions.

Manager Vitor Pereira is keen for Wood to return to match fitness.

‘I don’t want to push him up, but I think he will be able to help us in the last few games of the season. He is important for the group because he has quality. He scores goals, and he has the personality to help us,” Pereira said.

“I really hope we can have him for the last games because he’s an important player.’

In other news Forest are through to the next phase of the Europa League, after a win on pens against  Midtjylland  in Denmark.
They next play FC Porto on April 10th. CW touch Wood maybe fit by then.
https://us.soccerway.com/game/midtjylland-8GZDmdbB/nottingham-UsushcZr/?mid=AVtgA1Qc

The first step to hopefully playing on some big stages the next few months.
Lack of strapping yes a very good sign.

https://twitter.com/thenichecache/status/2035491943732703541

Here’s one for ya:

Nottingham Forest are 30 games into their Premier League season and Chris Wood hasn’t scored since game one… but he’s still their equal third top Prem scorer https://t.co/SoWL4KRPJ0

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 21, 2026

Forest (16th, 32 pts) with a massive 3-0 win at Spurs (17th, 30 pts). Scorers Jesus, Gibbs-White & Awonyi.
So yes Forest leap over Tottenham on the table.

West Ham (18th, 29 pts) remain in the drop zone.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/nottingham-UsushcZr/tottenham-UDg08Ohm/standings/standings/overall/?mid=n5KMyNNi 

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/news/news-in-depth-str-3bjul6xktwgtxktb9dtmxjnmvka-1774411840885/he-wasnt-a-class-player-how-chris-wood-went-from-eager-kid-to-football-legend-in-depth  video story about Chris's beginnings, features his parents and sister.

Reading AV's Stuff article sounds like Wood will play again for the Forest U21s tonight, and then hopefully get first team mins either against FC Porto in the Europa League next week or the EPL game against Villa that follows. Fingers & toes.

https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2026/april/02/b-team-round-off-regular-season-against-palace/

" Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood edging closer to a return to first-team action "


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c7vqd48v342o

No Woodsy for the U21s. Hopefully that’s nothing to be concerned about.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/04/06/all-whites-striker-chris-wood-expected-to-return-to-forest-line-up-in-next-week/

New Zealand captain Chris Wood is nearing a return to top-level football after making his third appearance for Nottingham Forest’s reserve team in a fortnight.

Wood (34) played an hour for Forest’s B team against Crystal Palace’s U-21 side on Saturday (NZT), starting as a lone striker in a 5-4-1 formation in the 2-0 loss.

He's in the squad for the game against Porto tomorrow morning. Yay!

So yes Forest travel to FC Porto 1st leg of their Europa League QF tie.
Forest beat the Portuguese side 2-0, in the group stage back in October.

Woodsman mins off the pine?

https://us.soccerway.com/game/fc-porto-S2NmScGp/nottingham-UsushcZr/?mid=6s4aTSgA

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360962171/all-whites-captain-chris-wood-set-return-nottingham-forest-crunch-europa-league-clash

“He has started to train with the team. He is available for the game,” Forest boss Vitor Pereira said.

"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.

Woodsy starts.

Subbed at half time by the looks of things. How did he do?

Read through the match thread on Reddit - and god damn that was enough existential angst for a week - from what I read the supporters are very happy he was back, and was basically the only player not slated for being arse. 
'Wood isn't nearly as rusty as I expected'
'Why was Wood the first one back to defend the counter?'
'Just get him (Wood) the ball!'

Finished 1-1. Forest host Villa Sunday night our time.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360962425/chris-wood-makes-first-nottingham-forest-appearance-173-days-europa-league-draw-porto

Forest's goal was an amusing OG by Porto, defender drove it past his keeper from 40 yards out on the angle.

https://streamin.me/v/9700f2bf

Crazy own goal aside, that’s a pretty good result for a first leg away. Stage is set for Wood to cement club hero status in the closing weeks if he can help them make a European semi (or better) and avoid relegation.