David Prutton has been discussing if it is a good thing that Nottingham Forest will keep Chris Wood for another year. The in-form striker is under contract at the City Ground until the end of next season.
Wood has astonished all Forest supporters in 2023/24. On Tuesday against Fulham, he scored his 12th goal of the season across all competitions.
Forest first added Wood on their roster in January 2022. Fans were outraged when it was revealed that the striker’s loan deal will become permanent for £15 million after three games.
In truth, last season, it appeared that the fans had a point. He scored just once, against Manchester City, and then missed the final six weeks of the season due to injury.
Wood’s redemption arc has been tremendous. He’s proven himself to the Forest fans and served as an excellent replacement for the injured Taiwo Awoniyi.
What David Prutton has said about Chris Wood
It’s been a big issue this week, with Wood back in form for Forest. Prutton was asked about the 32-year-old’s future before it was revealed that he was under contract for next season.
The Telegraph’s Forest writer, John Percy, said after the midweek game against Fulham that Wood is under contract for next season.
Prutton, on the other hand, was unaware of this when questioned about Wood and his future in Forest. It’s fair to say that he’s unsure if this is good news or not.
He told the Forest Focus podcast, “I believe it’s a no-brainer. What Chris has purchased, the goals you discuss, and his numbers speak for themselves. He’s a guy who can score at this level, he understands what Forest want, and his boss knows what he wants him to do.
“I think Chris Wood has looked like he belongs in the Premier League. He scores goals at this level, critical goals at this level, and I don’t believe keeping someone like him is a no-brainer.
“He seems like a likeable member of the squad, he doesn’t go dropping bombs behind the scenes, he doesn’t cause trouble and I think if the figures can work for Forest, I would definitely do the utmost to keep Chris.”
Wood can continue to shine for Forest.
With a striker like Wood, we believe it is relatively simple. Get him some service between the posts, and he’ll be more than capable of scoring goals, even at this level.
The fact that Wood has scored 12 goals for Forest this season demonstrates the type of person he is. Many dismissed the talisman, but he’s already proving his sharpest critics wrong.
It’s excellent that Forest has signed Wood for another season. It wasn’t clear whether he was out of contract in the summer, but he’ll be returning to Nottingham for preseason training.
It’s always a good thing when a footballer proves others wrong. Many argued that Wood was past his prime and that investing £80,000 per week for an older player was a bad idea.
The wage may still appear extravagant. However, if his goals maintain Forest in the Premier League, Wood will have been invaluable to the club.