Expert baffled by Chris Wood update out of Newcastle – ‘I’m not having it’
Chris Wood should remain at Newcastle United after proving his quality against Leicester.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the striker’s future.
According to The Athletic (18 December), Wood is “unlikely” to feature in the “ambitious” future plans at Newcastle as they target Champions League qualification.
The report claims the Magpies rejected loan and permanent bids for the striker during the summer window and are anticipating more offers in the mid-season window.
The New Zealand international started and scored Newcastle’s first in their 3-0 Boxing Day win at Leicester.
McManus claims Wood still has lots to offer the club.
“It was a very Chris Wood type of goal,” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“No messing around, straight down the middle, absolutely no problem. He was very, very good in the game off the ball too.
“Leicester didn’t know how to deal with him and he actually played like Callum Wilson. He can’t press in the same way but he was in the faces of the Leicester players every time he had the chance.
“That’s what you want to see and Howe will have loved it. All of this talk about him going, I’m not having it.
“That performance showed why he should be staying around for a while longer.”
As quoted by Craig Hope, Eddie Howe updated fans on Monday (19 December), to say that Alexander Isak, 23, remains sidelined and his recovery is being judged “day by day”.
Wood has started just three Premier League games this season and scored in the 4-1 rout of Southampton just before the World Cup.
In other news, Football Insider updates as Newcastle United move to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk after PiF green light.