Nottingham Forest will be without their star striker, Chris Wood, for their upcoming FA Cup quarterfinal clash against Brighton & Hove Albion. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed on Thursday that Wood picked up an injury while on international duty with New Zealand.
Wood has been in sensational form this season, scoring 18 goals for Forest and playing a crucial role in their push for a top-four finish in the Premier League. His absence will undoubtedly be felt by the team, especially after his hat-trick in their recent 7-0 thrashing of Brighton in the league.
The 33-year-old forward was instrumental in New Zealand’s 7-0 victory over Fiji during the international break, securing their qualification for the 2026 World Cup. However, he was forced off the field with a hip injury during their match against New Caledonia on Monday.
Espirito Santo revealed, “He went for a scan today, we are still waiting. He has been to a specialist for a scan. We will wait on the information and see.” Wood’s availability for future games remains uncertain as the extent of his injury is yet to be determined.
Despite his absence in the FA Cup, Wood has been a key player for Forest in their penalty shootout victories over Exeter City and Ipswich Town. Espirito Santo mentioned that they are monitoring the fitness of other players returning from international duty for any potential injury concerns.
On another note, Morgan Gibbs-White, who received a late call-up for England but did not feature in their recent matches, is expected to bounce back and focus on performing for Nottingham Forest. Espirito Santo emphasized that Gibbs-White does not need to prove anything to anyone and should concentrate on giving his best for the team.
“Hopefully he gets a chance in the future… He doesn’t have to prove anybody wrong. This is not the state of mind that he should have,” Espirito Santo stated. “He has to compete and play and give his teammates and Nottingham Forest everything he has. Things will come naturally.”
