Sean Dyche confirms £15m Nottingham Forest star missed training ahead of Porto
Sean Dyche is preparing his Nottingham Forest side for their Europa League clash against Porto on Thursday night.
Dyche was named Nottingham Forest manager on Tuesday, October 21, after Ange Postecoglou was sacked following just 39 days in the dugout.
Formerly of Watford, Burnley and Everton, the 54-year-old has been set the task of leading the Tricky Trees up the Premier League table.
Postecoglou left his post at the City Ground with the Reds in 18th position, while Dyche has warned Nottingham Forest that success isn’t guaranteed.
Chris Wood misses Nottingham Forest training ahead of Porto
Forest host Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, October 23, and Dyche was hoping to have a full squad to choose from.
Sadly, the Englishman confirmed that striker Chris Wood is a doubt for the game after picking up a knock.
“Wood got a knock, it’s probably touch and go at the moment, he’s been off the grass. We’ll see how he is,” Dyche said in his press conference.
Dyche worked with Wood during his time at Burnley, and the 33-year-old netted double figures in the Premier League in four successive campaigns.
| Premier League season | Chris Wood games / goals |
| 2020/21 | 33 games / 12 goals |
| 2019/20 | 32 games / 14 goals |
| 2018/19 | 38 games / 10 goals |
| 2017/18 | 24 games 10 goals |
Wood, who joined Forest for £15million in 2023, would have been hoping to make an instant impression under his former manager, but it’s looking like he may have to wait.
Wood fits Sean Dyche’s system perfectly
Dyche is known for deploying a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-4-2 formation, which focuses on getting the ball up the pitch rapidly and being rigid defensively.
Wood has struggled to recapture last season’s form in 2025/26, only netting a brace against Brentford on the opening day.
But with the New Zealand star set to play under the Englishman once more, there’s a huge chance he will return to his lethal best.
Dyche is known for overloading the box with crosses and making his side dangerous from set-pieces, and that is the complete opposite of Postecoglou.
So, with a more direct and pragmatic style, Wood should flourish and prove why he’s the perfect striker for Dyche’s system.