‘We saw it at Leeds’: Sky pundit reacts to Newcastle United’s Chris Wood moving to Forest

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Darren Ambrose has backed Newcastle United striker Chris Wood to be the ‘main man’ at Nottingham Forest and thrive like his old days at Leeds United.

The former Magpies midfielder added that when Chris Wood is the main feature of the team, then he scores the goals, ahead of a possible January exit from St James’ Park, as he told The Transfer Show on Sky Sports.

Only 12 months ago, Newcastle were bringing the 31-year-old to the club from relegation rivals Burnley, who ended up dropping to the Championship.

During that period, Wood has played his role for Eddie Howe, but with Callum Wilson in the team and the summer arrival of club-record signing, Alexander Isak, then his stay in the North East was always going to be short-lived.

And now there is talk that Nottingham Forest want to bring him to the club before the window slams shut, it seems as though talks are at an advanced stage.

If that’s the case, then there will be no return to Leeds, who have enquired about the hard-hitting striker, nonetheless, Ambrose backed Wood’s exit this month.

“I think it makes sense, especially for Chris Wood,” said Ambrose. “I don’t think he will get as much game time as he would have hoped for at Newcastle, especially with Isak coming back and Callum Wilson coming back.

“I think he is the third choice at Newcastle, whether they bring someone else in, I don’t know. That remains to be seen. I am sure they are maybe looking for someone else.

“Nottingham Forest need goals. They need someone to come in and score a lot of goals. He will go in as the main man. At Newcastle, he’s not. He’s someone who fills a gap.

“I think when he is the main man. We have seen it at Leicester before, and we have seen it at Leeds. He has a good goalscoring record when he is the main man. I think it makes sense for both parties.”

CHRIS WOOD A SMART PURCHASE

Whether it be on a loan deal until the end of the season or for a small transfer fee, those down the bottom could do with a player of Wood’s ilk.

Play to the £80k-a-week Newcastle star’s (Spotrac) strengths and he will find the back of the net, as Leeds fans know too well.

Albeit in the Championship, Wood scored 44 goals in 88 matches for the Whites, before donning the colours of Burnley, as Forest could be club number 13 of his career.