In-form striker Chris Wooden has opened up on his quick spell at St James’ Park and revealed that Eddie Howe needed to maintain him earlier than reluctantly sanctioning a mid-season transfer to Nottingham Forest final 12 months.
With 5 objectives in his final 4 league video games and eight in 10 for the season, solely Man Metropolis’s Erling Haaland has outscored the Kiwi this time period, serving to Forest transfer as much as third within the desk forward of our journey to Nottingham this Sunday.
The 32-year-old bagged simply 5 objectives in 39 video games throughout his time on Tyneside, however has netted 24 objectives in 52 appearances for Forest and mentioned why Eddie Howe reluctantly sanctioned his transfer to the Metropolis Floor final January.
As Wooden explains, Howe – who he had a “nice relationship” with – was eager to maintain him on at Newcastle and didn’t wish to be left quick in assault, however was allowed to depart for the sake of his profession after slipping to third-choice within the pecking order behind Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson.
“I had an excellent relationship with the Newcastle supporters, Eddie Howe and the staff, however I used to be trying just like the third-choice,” Wooden mentioned when reflecting on his exit.
“I used to be very fortunate that Eddie was understanding and appreciated my aspect of eager to play, despite the fact that he didn’t wish to let me go on the time as a result of it might need left him a bit quick. He was actually good for me within the sense of claiming, ‘I would like you to proceed your profession and do properly.’”
Wooden left on an preliminary mortgage deal final January which included a £15m obligation to purchase for Forest. It seems to be like a discount on present kind, however few on Tyneside complained on the time, with the New Zealand worldwide barely getting a glance in behind Isak and Wilson.
After bagging a hat-trick at St James’ Park final December, hopefully his run of objectives involves an finish this Sunday forward of our 2pm conflict on the Metropolis Floor!