The revival of the standard quantity 9 has gathered tempo.
Chris Wooden helps the massive goal man turn into modern once more after his electrical begin to the season for Nottingham Forest.
The 32-year-old scored twice within the second half to assist his present aspect beat his former one, Leicester Metropolis, on Friday and ship them as much as fifth within the Premier League.
Solely Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland [10] has scored extra within the league than the seven-goal New Zealand worldwide this season.
Since Nuno Espírito Santo’s first sport in command of Forest on 23 December, 2023, solely Haaland [18] has scored extra non-penalty league objectives than Wooden’s tally of 17.
Because the pair lead the top-flight’s scoring charts, and Norwegian Haaland additionally a robust bodily presence up entrance, Wooden is revelling within the return of the old style centre-forward.
“We wish to attempt to deliver it again or I will be out of a job,” he mentioned. “For a time period, the small centre-forward or the quantity 10 blended position with the quantity 9, it sort of got here into trend.
“Fortunately Erling has come and introduced it again into trend, he has acquired numerous tempo and energy, some issues I haven’t got, however it’s making it simpler for us quantity nines.”
Wooden, who additionally scored the winner in Monday’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, has moved stage with Stan Collymore on 22 Premier League objectives for Forest after his double on the King Energy Stadium, with solely Bryan Roy [24] scoring extra for the membership within the competitors.
His first got here from a neat swivel and end two minutes into the second half earlier than he capitalised on Wout Faes’ error to nod over a stranded Mads Hermansen on the hour.
Speak of the Golden Boot might need been fanciful at the beginning of the season however Wooden is at the moment in that bracket.
He informed Sky Sports activities: “I simply wish to maintain scoring as many as I can. He is [Haaland] a really formidable man and he is in all probability going to attain 30 objectives this season.”
The previous West Brom and Leeds ahead additionally has a objective for New Zealand this time period, in a 3-0 win over Tahiti.
Signed by present Leicester boss Steve Cooper for £15m in 2023 from Newcastle, after an preliminary mortgage spell, Wooden has 23 objectives in 51 appearances in all competitions for Forest.
Final season he scored 3 times in 15 video games earlier than Nuno arrived. The Portuguese boss changed Cooper 11 months in the past and Wooden then netted 11 objectives in 16 appearances – and is having fun with life below the previous Wolves and Tottenham head coach.
“He has are available and put the emphasis on getting balls into the field, getting individuals into the field,” he added. “That provides Taiwo [Awoniyi] and I extraordinarily effectively. We’re huge centre-forwards who love deliveries, love crosses.
“That is what we thrive off. He has labored on that on the coaching pitch and fortunately it has come to the fold.”
