Journalist Ben Jacobs has insisted that Chris Wood is happy at Newcastle United despite his lack of first-team minutes.
Wood’s move was looked down upon back in January when PIF splashed out £25m on the striker due to Callum Wilson’s absence through injury and their precarious position in the Premier League.
That has turned out to be justified somewhat, with Wood having started just two league games this season with Wilson and Alexander Isak above him in the pecking order, which has led to reports emerging about how he could be on the move next month.
However, Jacobs has claimed on the NUFC Matters YouTube channel that Wood is very happy on Tyneside as a squad player.
He said: “They spent more than Chris Wood was worth, and luckily for them, he’s contributed with a goal here and there and bought into the mentality – and as importantly, he’s not got annoyed that he’s not playing in every game.
Will Wood leave Newcastle in January?
Yes!
No!
“He is very much, as I understand it, enjoying life at Newcastle being a squad player and it remains to be seen, therefore, whether in the next window or two clubs come in for him and he wants a bit more game time.”
TIF Thoughts on Chris Wood…
Until the midweek clash against Bournemouth, Wood had been the striker Eddie Howe called upon in the Carabao Cup this season, with the New Zealander starting against Tranmere Rovers and Crystal Palace. However, he was dropped to the bench to allow Wilson to build up his minutes.
Wood did indeed get onto the pitch for a brief cameo, as he has done in most games this season, having featured for just 264 minutes in the Premier League, but to have a striker that’s willing to sit on the bench and be an option will be massive for Howe.
This is because Howe will know how to get the best out of Wood and be assured that the striker can carry out instructions very well without him kicking up a fuss about his lack of minutes.
Wood could still play an important role in the second half of the season given the injury histories of Wilson and Isak, so he perhaps knows he could get an opportunity soon enough.