Dan Burn says player who Newcastle United sold for £15m deserves much more praise

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Newcastle United need to become better sellers, while a lot of the players that they are letting go are hitting new heights.

Yankuba Minteh has enjoyed a bright start to his Brighton career, while Elliot Anderson is flying in a Nottingham Forest shirt. Both players left Newcastle United over the summer, as Toon officials scrambled to comply with PSR.

Anderson is the biggest disappointment, as he was a local lad who came through the Toon academy. And he is shining at Nottingham Forest alongside another former Newcastle United player.

Chris Wood continues to thrive after Newcastle United exit

In January 2023, Newcastle United loaned Chris Wood out to Nottingham Forest. The deal included an obligation to buy, with Wood then moving to the City Ground permanently for £15million.

After a slow start, Wood is now on fire for Forest. He did very well last season, scoring 14 Premier League goals.

The 2024/25 is threatening to be even better, with Wood currently boasting seven goals in nine Premier League games.

Everything he touches turns to goals, which is a complete contrast to his time at Newcastle United where he scored just five goals in 39 appearances in all competitions.

What Dan Burn has said about Chris Wood

His hot streak in front of goal continued last week, as he netted a brace in a 3-1 win for Forest over Leicester City.

The 32-year-old is starting to receive a lot of praise, and his former Newcastle United teammate Dan Burn has told BBC Radio 5 Live that Wood actually deserves more credit.

“He’s a great guy, first and foremost,” he said.

“I’m really happy for him. He definitely doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

“All the things that a fan doesn’t see sitting in the stand, the work off the ball, the way he can occupy two centre-halves.

“He’s full of confidence at the minute. You can see the way he’s taking shots early. I’m really happy for him.

“For him to be as consistent as he has been over the amount of years he’s been playing in the Premier League, he’s a credit to himself.”

Newcastle selling Chris Wood was good business

Given how well he is now playing, there are probably some Newcastle United fans wondering why we ever let Wood go.

But, in truth, his 2023 departure was brilliant business.

After signing him for £25million a year earlier, it was great work from Dan Ashworth to sell him for £15million. He had done his job in helping Newcastle survive, and a £10million loss was not a major concern given the fact we probably overpaid. Even that was not a major problem, as his arrival weakened a relegation rival in Burnley.

Newcastle moved Wood on at the right time, and it is great to see him playing so well for Nottingham Forest.

The only frustration on Tyneside is that while he scores goals, Callum Wilson remains injured. While Wood did not score enough for Newcastle, he was certainly reliable.