Nottingham Forest ‘to target’ Chris Wood for Porto first leg | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest could receive a significant injury boost for their Europa League quarter-final, with Chris Wood edging closer to a first-team return.

The Reds head to Portugal after the international break for the first leg against Porto, then host the return a week later. The Telegraph reports that Forest are aiming for Wood to be available for the opener, and he is due to feature in a B team friendly against Northampton today.

The striker has been sidelined since October with a knee injury and underwent surgery around the turn of the year. He scored on his comeback for the Under-21s last week, and a senior appearance might not be far away.

Head coach Vitor Pereira has been cautious on timelines but, after the 3-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, said the break would allow Wood to work with the group and build confidence. He added that he thought the forward would be able to help in the next games.

Wood was Forest’s top league scorer last season with 20. This term goals have been harder to find, with Morgan Gibbs-White on nine in the league and Callum Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus on three apiece.

Forest remain in a fight for Premier League survival. Victory at Spurs moved them three points above the drop zone, and they need to build on that over their remaining seven matches.

Source: Nottingham Post