‘I want to get into 20 goals’

Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood says he wants to “score more” and has the “belief” in himself to do so.

The 32-year-old scored 14 Premier League goals in 31 games last season to help the Reds avoid relegation.

It was as many goals as he had scored in the league since the 2019-20 campaign with Burnley.

“I view it as a positive season personally and a positive season as a team as well because we stayed up again,” Wood told BBC East Midlands Today.

“Second season syndrome is very tough – it happens to a lot of teams. They stay up the first season and then they go down the next so to get over that hurdle is big.

“It’s good for the club and now gives us a desire to push on and do better. I want to do more as a player and as a striker. I want to score more. I want to get into 20 goals and get as high up as possible, both for the goal tally and the team in general.”

The New Zealand international found his form again having struggled during his 12 months with Newcastle United, who he joined for £25m in January 2022 and where he scored just five goals in 39 games.

“I know in myself if I play enough games I will score a good number of goals,” Wood added.

“I have that belief in myself and I believe my team-mates have that belief in me. It is about just finding a situation that works well.

“Having the belief of the manager that comes in is important and Nuno gave me a lot of responsibility to go out and score. It was something I wanted and thrived on and I hope I repaid him in that sense.”