Nottingham Forest in huge Premier League relegation blow as top star is injured and will miss rest of season
NOTTINGHAM FOREST have been rocked ahead of Saturday’s crucial relegation battle with Wolves after Chris Wood was ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Kiwi international, signed from Newcastle United for £15million in January, suffered a thigh injury while training with New Zealand during the international break.
And gutted Forest boss Steve Cooper confirmed the 31-year-old has gone under the knife after requiring surgery to repair the damage.
It is the second thigh injury Forest’s key hitman has suffered recently after he picked up a similar injury in the defeat at Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.
However, Wood’s latest injury is to his other thigh and completes a miserable period for Cooper as his medical room continues to fill up at a crucial time of the season.
The Welshman said: “Serge Aurier, Andre Ayew and Gustavo Scarpa have picked up some injuries over the break as well.
“We’re not sure how long they will be out for or what their availability will be for the next few games.
“Taiwo Awoniyi and Cheikhou Kouyate are back in full training. And obviously Moussa (Niakhate) is back now having played the last game.
“He made his international debut for Senegal during the international break – congratulations to him for that, I know what it means to him.”
But Wood’s absence will be seen as a huge hammer blow to Forest’s survival chances as the experienced striker has only managed seven Premier League outings for his new club.
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He scored in his fourth appearance for Forest against Manchester City last month and was just finding his feet when he suffered a second injury setback.
Cooper must now face 13th-placed Wolves in Saturday’s vital City Ground relegation scrap without Wood leading the line, with fellow frontman Andre Ayew also injured following international duty and doubts over local hero Brennan Johnson too.
Cooper added: “It’s a mixed bag on availability.
“Would I like it to look better? Of course, but it’s just something we have to deal with.
“We’ll put our focus on the players who are available and who are training ready to play the next game and commit to them guys.
“Brennan is not back to full fitness. It’s something we are assessing on a daily basis and are having to manage.
“Like some of the other guys, it’s a little bit inconclusive at the moment, in terms of availability for the next games.
“With us having three games in a week now it’s a day-by-day situation, not just with Brennan but with a few of the boys.”