Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Wed 18 March 2026 11:29, UK

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Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood has been missing from the squad since October with an apparent knee injury.

The striker played just 16 minutes of a 3-0 loss to Chelsea near the start of the season, and has not been seen on the pitch since.

But limited updates have provided uncertainty around the 34-year-old’s injury, with frustration at his extended absence growing.

Wood scored 20 Premier League goals for the Tricky Trees last season, and he has been missed massively.

Igor Jesus has been relied on while Wood remains on the Nottingham Forest injury table, but the Brazilian has netted just two league goals.

Everything we know about Chris Wood’s injury

Football Insider exclusively revealed in January that Wood could miss the rest of the season, although Nottingham Forest have retained hope that he can return in the coming weeks.

The striker had initially been injured against Chelsea in October, and was subsequently seen wearing a knee brace while attending his team’s matches.

At the start of December, Sean Dyche had confirmed that Wood was “making progress”, but the true extent of his injury was not clear until he unexpectedly posted a picture of himself after having undergone surgery just after Christmas.

Since then, Dyche has been sacked and replaced by Vitor Pereira, who said last month that it is hoped that the striker can return before the end of the season, but that he did not know for sure.

Speaking in February after he was awarded the Pride of New Zealand for his goal-scoring in England, Wood provided an update on his injury.

“The manner of the injury has not been perfect because we’ve tried different things and had setbacks and having to go down different routes of surgery and things like that so, it’s not been smooth sailing,” he said.

He added: “Had some positive news yesterday from the surgeon to say I can go on to the next stages and things like that so, it’s better for my rehab now.”

Now, according to New Zealand outlet, The Post, Wood is expected to be on track for a mid-April return amid his hopes of going to the World Cup this summer.

Wood could keep Nottingham Forest up

Such is the fight close at the bottom of the Premier League, the difference between safety and relegation could be decided by just a few goals.

Unfortunately for Nottingham Forest, goals have been hard to come by of late. Pereira’s side failed to score against Midtjylland and Fulham last week, and face a relegation six-pointer against Tottenham on Sunday.

Wood’s return will be managed carefully, with one eye on next season, but the striker’s return could well be the difference.

The New Zealand international fired Nottingham Forest to Europe last season, and it could now be time he fires them to safety.