Chris Wooden has been labelled as ‘oustanding’ by his former supervisor Eddie Howe because the Nottingham Forest purpose machine prepares to face Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
Wooden, 33, was signed by Howe to assist maintain Newcastle up in 2022 however scored simply 4 Premier League targets in two seasons earlier than being allowed to maneuver to Forest.
He has flourished within the east midlands although, scoring 18 occasions already this season to assist propel Forest to 3rd place.
Two of the best scoring forwards in #FPL this season 💪
Alexander Isak and Chris Wooden meet in Gameweek 26 – however who’re you backing for the most important return? 👀 pic.twitter.com/z3LA4iUSgX
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 19, 2025
Howe mentioned: “I feel he has been excellent. Chris, when he got here to us, helped us in a very troublesome state of affairs preventing relegation.
“We felt we want a focus in that place. Someone who may take numerous strain off of us as a crew and provides us a bodily presence. I believed he did all of these issues and was excellent for the crew.
“I in all probability under-estimated how a lot he affected our type and play. Then with Alex’s [Isak] return to health and Callum’s [Wilson] return he ended up transferring on.
“I’m delighted for him on a private degree as a result of he is a superb character, gave every little thing for us.”
Newcastle have misplaced three of their final 4 video games however are solely three factors off the highest 4 going into the weekend.
Howe desires to see a response from the disappointing defeat at Manchester Metropolis final weekend.
He mentioned: “There aren’t any certainties in soccer, that I can say with little doubt. However I feel there may be an understanding that we didn’t carry out.
“There may be an understanding of what we didn’t do nicely sufficient. We’ve definitely lined that with the gamers and we predict an enormous response.”