Newcastle United were yesterday linked with a move for Chris Wood.
The Burnley striker has emerged as a January target for the struggling Magpies, who has lost Callum Wilson for the next eight weeks.
Wilson hobbled off during the recent draw with Manchester United, and Eddie Howe informed supporters that the club’s number nine is out for the foreseeable future.
It won’t come as too much of a surprise to many given his injury record. But that doesn’t make it any easier to accept.
It is now paramount that Newcastle sign at least one striker this window – and going for Wood is actually a very good idea.
The 59-cap New Zealand international is not glamorous by name, nor by play-style.
But he is a proven goalscorer at Premier League level.
He’s struck 50 in the competition so far. And he has managed to score at least 10 in each of the past four seasons.
That is more than respectable considering Burnley are not renowned for scoring goals.
And unlike Wilson for Newcastle, Wood has been very available for the Clarets over the past few campaigns. Newcastle need players they can rely on going into the second-half of the season.
Not only does signing Wood improve Newcastle, it also weakens Burnley, who are relegation rivals.
Chris Wood would be a pragmatic, sensible signing for Newcastle
Newcastle aren’t going to attract world stars right away.
But there are plenty of individuals out there who are attainable and can still make a big difference to Newcastle’s squad.
Some will scoff at the links to Wood, but the 30-year-old has scored goals in a struggling side and helped keep Burnley up in previous seasons. Why can’t he do the same for Newcastle?
Against Cambridge United yesterday, Newcastle put in 35 crosses but were unable to score. Having an aerial threat like Wood on the field might have meant a totally different result.
New signing Kieran Trippier certainly knows how to cross a ball. That’s another reason Wood could be a great addition.
Getting him in might be difficult. Burnley would be determined to prevent him joining a league rival.
But he’s out of contract in the summer, putting the Clarets under big pressure to offload him.
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