Newcastle United’s new striker Chris Wood has yet to score in four appearances. However, Wood has still served a purpose for the Magpies against the likes of Everton and Aston Villa despite not finding the net yet.
The New Zealand international and Dwight Gayle are the only fit strikers available for the Toon at the moment. Number nine Callum Wilson sustained an injury against Manchester United and won’t be back for a while. So the 30-year-old is the best option the club currently has.
Newcastle have won their last three games as they look to avoid the drop. Wood, 30, has played a role in making sure that the Magpies picked up those nine important points against Leeds United, Everton and Villa.
Wood is an aerial threat for Newcastle and the stats back it up
What the forward offers is a threat in the air. Against Aston Villa, he won 13 out of 15 headers (sofascore.com), whilst against the Toffees he won 12 out 20 headers (sofascore.com).
Newcastle will need to better utilise this ability. Often Wood is winning a lot of the ball deeper in play, plus when the ball is played up to him, he sometimes doesn’t get the options around him he needs.
More crosses into the box would be effective for Wood. He’s not had many-headed opportunities so far but creating more of them would lead to his first goal in black and white.
Furthermore, you can see that he is anxious to get that first goal. Against Villa, he lashed a shot wide from outside the box when. he had a great opportunity to play in Ryan Fraser.
Getting goals is a big part of a striker’s game and Wood hasn’t been able to do that so far. However, it’s not been all doom and gloom for the forward. He’s a big threat in the air, winning most of his duals.
If he can add goals to his game then the New Zealand international will be worthy of his price tag. He’s proven he can get goals for Burnley and hopefully Newcastle will be no different.
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