Eddie Howe put his faith in Chris Wood to fire Newcastle towards safety when he signed him in the January transfer window.
Wood has not scored yet but has done plenty of work off the ball, winning flick-ons and occupying defenders as well as Newcastle have improved of late.
The former Burnley hitman was praised by his manager before the 1-0 win over Aston Villa last time out and according to an interview in the Telegraph, the affection is mutual.
“The manager is great, he really is. He is first and foremost a coach, he loves coaching, he loves getting his hands on players and improving them,” said Wood of Howe.
“The attention to detail is huge. It probably goes under the radar but the small things he changes in game, the small changes he makes from game to game to adapt to different teams and styles.
“It’s huge. Every week, we are making little pieces of the puzzle to make us better against different opponents. He’s so intricate with the way he thinks and how he prepares us.”
The impact Howe has had on Newcastle – from the players on the pitch to the optimism of the fans – is clear for all to see.
He has clearly put his heart and soul into the club and is committed to improving the style of football as well as the togetherness of the group.
Wood will look more confident once he gets that first goal but in the meantime, he is still contributing and it is only a matter of time if Newcastle keep playing this well.
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