Journalist John Gibson has slammed Chris Wood for not being up to standard for Newcastle United in the Premier League.
Wood, who cost the club £25m, is still yet to reach the heights many may have expected with just three goals across all competitions prior to the weekend, while he’s also started just one game in the Premier League this campaign.
The New Zealand international has been playing deputy to both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak this season was a doubt ahead of this weekend’s clash against Fulham having picked up a rib injury while away on international duty.
Gibson, speaking on the Everything is Black and White podcast before Newcastle’s clash with Fulham, isn’t too worried by Wood’s injury due to his severe lack of quality at this level.
He said: “We’ve found out how hard it is to find a centre-forward before Callum Wilson and since Callum Wilson – and Isak might not be your traditional centre-forward when he does settle into the side.
Has Chris Wood been a flop at Newcastle?
Yes!
No!
“He’ll be a good player, but he may not be a traditional number nine, which means we still haven’t got one underneath Callum Wilson, if you don’t include Chris Wood – who is not Premier League class, I’m afraid.”
TIF Thoughts on Chris Wood…
It was certainly a signing that took people by surprise a few months ago when PIF splashed out on what was then the club’s most-expensive signing under their new owners, with Wood only netting three league goals in the season prior to his January move.
When Wood ends up leaving Newcastle, people may look back on his time spent on Tyneside as a waste given how expensive he was and his severe lack of attacking output under Eddie Howe, despite him previously being labelled as ‘exceptional‘ by Newcastle journalist Jordan Cronin.
With Alexander Isak now at the club – albeit injured at the minute – and Wilson a reliable goalscorer during his time at Newcastle, it’s very difficult to see where Wood fits into the Newcastle side moving forward and we agree with Gibson’s feelings on the situation.