Chris Wood reveals what ‘honest’ Eddie Howe told him right before leaving Newcastle United that he loved

Add as preferred source on Google

Chris Wood was one of Newcastle United’s first signings following the takeover.

The Magpies triggered Wood’s release clause to while both them and Burnley were struggling for points towards the bottom of the Premier League table.

It cost Newcastle £25million, but it was a masterstroke by Eddie Howe and co to take a key asset away from a relegation rival. Newcastle ended up finishing 11th that season, and Burnley were relegated.

Wood made 39 appearances for Newcastle, scoring five goals before being loaned to Nottingham Forest. Wood’s loan move was made permanent shortly after – Wood is now thriving at Forest who sit third in the Premier League table.

The Kiwi has scored 12 goals in 20 league games this season – only five players have more including Alexander Isak.

In 2023, the 33-year-old came back to haunt Newcastle. Wood scored a hat-trick at St James’ Park as Forest ran out 3-1 winners on Boxing Day.

Now, in a recent interview – Wood has shared exactly how the move away from Newcastle came about.

• READ MORE: All of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United signings, ranked

Chris Wood appreciates “honest and open” Eddie Howe

After being a consistent starter during the latter stages of the 2021/22 season, Wood lost his place in Newcastle’s starting XI when Isak joined the club.

In an interview in the FourFourTwo magazine (February 2025 edition, page 41) Wood revealed a conversation he had with Howe which kicked off his Newcastle exit.

On his Newcastle departure, Wood said: “It all came around very quickly. Forest needed a striker and I wasn’t playing at Newcastle; Alexander Isak is a brilliant player and he was coming into his own, showing his quality. You could see it when he arrived. I spoke to Eddie and he said, ‘At the moment, it seems you’re going to be third choice.’

“I thanked him for being honest and open. I said ‘I’ve received this opportunity – would it be possible?’ He said, ‘If that’s what you want to do, we can work it out.’ I really appreciated his honesty.

“I could come down here (to Nottingham Forest) and play more football than I would’ve done at Newcastle. Leaving was tough – I was really enjoying my time up here with the teammates and friends I’d made, and I wanted to be involved in the club for years to come because I could see the project being amazing.”

Wood’s season compared to Alexander Isak’s

Like Wood, Isak is enjoying a great season in front of goal. Both players seem to have found exactly what they were looking for in a manager with Isak benefitting from Howe’s fast attacking football and Wood thriving under Nuno Espirito Santo’s more defensive, methodical play.

Isak sits just above Wood for goals scored and has bagged three more assists than him. If things stay as they are until the end of the Premier League campaign, both teams could be playing Champions League football next season.

Both Wood and Isak will go down as the difference makers for the achievement. Wood is in line for a return to St James’ Park as Newcastle take on Nottingham Forest on February 23.