Igor Jesus Leads Europa League Scoring as Nottingham Forest Prepares for Key Fixture
No player has found the net more times in the Europa League this season than Igor Jesus. However, the spotlight during Nottingham Forest’s trip to northern Portugal this Wednesday is on another striker: Chris Wood. Last season, only prominent names like Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, and Alexander Isak outperformed the New Zealand forward in the Premier League. After a prolonged absence, Wood is gradually regaining his fitness and inching closer to a much-anticipated return to the first team.
Wood’s Journey Back to Fitness
Wood generated significant excitement during last weekend’s interactive public training session at the City Ground. Following knee surgery in December, the 34-year-old has hit several milestones, most notably scoring in the 11th minute of his return match for Forest’s under-21 team against Newcastle at Loughborough University. The modest stadium hosted a few hundred spectators, including Forest fans and students from the North East.
Long Wait for a League Goal
It has been 215 days since Wood last scored, which came during the season opener against Brentford, when Nuno Espirito Santo was still at the helm. Remarkably, eight months later, he remains the last Forest striker to score a league goal at home.
Managerial Changes and Upcoming Challenges
Wood’s last goal, a stoppage-time penalty in a disappointing home loss to Midtjylland, came during a turbulent time for the club. Following that match, manager Ange Postecoglou faced backlash and was dismissed almost immediately after a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in October. Now, as Forest gears up for a quarter-final first leg in Porto, Vitor Pereira, the club’s fourth manager this season, has confirmed that Wood could play a critical role.
A Boost for the Team
Pereira expressed his hope that Wood’s return would provide a significant boost to the team. “He is available, and I hope he can help us in the games we have to face,” said Pereira. It’s worth noting that Wood contributed over a third of Forest’s 58 goals last season. His presence could increase their win rate from 25% to 37%. Even his mere return to training has lifted the morale among his teammates.
Forest’s Recent Performance and Future Aspirations
The atmosphere has also been vibrant following Forest’s 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur just before the international break. Igor Jesus played a pivotal role in that match, scoring an impressive header among his 13 goals this season. His contributions include seven goals in the Europa League, three in domestic cups, and three in the Premier League.
Balancing Competitions Amidst International Duty
As the team prepares for the upcoming challenges, Pereira recognizes the importance of maintaining momentum, especially with a tight schedule that includes a match against Aston Villa just three days after the Europa League clash. “After the win against Spurs, we would have liked to have played immediately to take advantage of that positive energy,” Pereira said, highlighting the need to balance the demands of multiple competitions. With just four games remaining in the Europa League, the quest for advancement continues to motivate the entire squad.
