Fresh off a career-best campaign that saw Chris Wood score 20 Premier League goals to help Nottingham Forest finish seventh in the Premier League and qualify for Europe, Wood has plenty to look forward to this season, both at club and international level. 

From leading the line in Forest’s first European campaign in decades, aiming for a spot in the exclusive 100 Premier League goals club, to targeting victory over trans-Tasman rivals Australia next month, the Kiwi striker enters the new Premier League season with ambition, momentum, and an unshakable belief in what his side can achieve. 

Q. Last season, Nottingham Forest had a terrific campaign and were near the top of the table for much of it. You finished seventh and qualified for Europe. Do you think the team will play the same way this season, or will you look to evolve your style?

A. We're trying to evolve. It's one of those things you want to continue to progress and continue to get better. During preseason, we've tried a few different things out, which hopefully will add to our arsenal of what we can do. But, also, we can't go away from what made us so good last season. So, we need to find a good balance between the both. Not trying to change too much, but also improving and becoming a better side all around and collectively.

Q. And for yourself personally, you had an incredible goal-scoring season. How do you go about repeating that, or even improving on last season?

A. It's just trying to go in with the same mindset and mentality of wanting to improve and outperform what I did last year. I know I had a good season, but I'd like to go and do even better, strive for even more and be ambitious in that sense. It's not gonna be easy, no getting away from that, but we’ve got a team that's capable of providing chances and hopefully I can continue to stick them away.

Q. This time last season, a lot of pundits were tipping Nottingham Forest for relegation. How much did that fuel you and the team in achieving what you did last season?

A. Look, it didn't really bother us too much. We know we'd been in a relegation fight the last two seasons, so I can see why they took us to be that way. But internally, in our club, we believe we have a team that can compete, improve and push our way up the table. We had envisioned around tenth. And if we could’ve made it into the top half, that would have been great. Obviously, we exceeded all expectations on everybody's behalf. But it was fantastic in that sense, and we just got confidence from there and carried on in a role.

Q. You’ve got a Europa League campaign this season. How much does it mean to you to have that under your belt?

A. It's gonna be fantastic. I mean, bringing European games back to the City Ground is gonna be quite special. It's got a big history around European games, City Ground. So it's fantastic in that sense. So, it's brilliant for everybody involved in the club. We're in a competition that we have a chance of progressing and doing well in. But it's not gonna be easy, of course. It's the Europa League. It's gonna be very tough, but we're looking forward to the challenge.

Q. Heading into last season, you mentioned the expectation was around mid-table. After last season's success, has that target changed for this season?

A. Look. Yeah. We haven't really spoken about it completely. It's a very different season. We're gonna be playing 55, 60 games this year, depending on cup competitions. It's a lot more than what we were last year. So we're gonna have to have a squad that's good enough to do it all, and I think we do. And I'm sure with the recruits that will come in in the next three weeks, that'll be the same thing. But it's one of those, yeah, we do wanna get better. We wanna achieve more, whether that's in the Premier League, in the Europa League. It's yet to be seen. But if we can put two and two together with both of them, it'll be fantastic. We can go on runs in both competitions.

Q. Later in the year you’ll be playing for the All Whites against Australia. Other players in your position might opt to stay in England and miss that series. How important is it for you to come back for those matches?

A. Look, it's big. I mean, we don't get to play Australia often, and especially leaning into a World Cup year. It's exciting. It's a challenge for us, and we wanna beat them. We haven't been able to beat them for a while, so we wanna actually do that. That's what our challenge will be come September. I wanna be a part of that. And yeah. I mean, coming back's a long way, but it's a long way for a lot of the boys. We all sacrifice to do it, and New Zealand Football are good at trying to get us out as soon as possible to get back to our clubs in the right time. So, yeah, it's good to be back in New Zealand, especially in September.

Q. After last season’s success, there’s now extra focus on you from the media, fans, and opposition teams who’ll be trying to shut you down. How do you deal with that?

A. Yeah. I mean, they'll be trying to work us out, definitely, as a team, and limit what we can do and what we were good at last season. But that's what we've been working on in preseason, to try to come up with different avenues if that does happen. We've got different players that have come into the team this season, and it's gonna be a different way of playing at some times in the season. So, yeah, we've worked on trying to do things differently to cause other teams problems that we can exploit and do well for ourselves. But also we were very good at what we did. So if we do that to a higher level, the teams will hopefully not be able to cope again.

Q. Given everything you’ve achieved with the club, what is life like for you around Nottingham now? And how is fatherhood treating you?

A. I mean, the year was fantastic and all sorts. I mean, it started off with the wedding and then, obviously, the best footballing season I've had, and then the birth of our baby girl at the end of it. So it was certainly a life-changing season or year for myself and my family, which was fantastic. And, yeah, the club's just buzzing to be back in Europe. That was what every fan wanted, and they're just as happy as we are. To be able to play European games under the lights on a Thursday night is gonna be something very special. It's something that my family are gonna enjoy coming to. I'm sure my family will enjoy traveling to some of the away games as well, which will be nice. But, yeah, it's one of those where we love living in Nottingham, and the people of Nottingham have been good to us.

Q. At this stage of the season, in the week leading up to the first game, what are you most looking forward to about getting back into competitive football?

A. Look. It's just starting again. I mean, preseason's preseason. It's not football in our terms. It's about trying things, getting fit, and it's never the finished article. Now we're coming to the business end, starting it all over again, and this is when you need to turn up and perform. Sometimes it happens on day one. Sometimes it takes day two or day three of the season. But hopefully, we've done enough to be ready for day one. It's gonna be a tough game against Brentford at home, but we're looking forward to the challenge, and then we'll be gearing up all week to make sure we're ready to take it on and get a positive result.

Q. You’re closing in on the 100-goal mark in the Premier League. What would it mean for you to reach three figures?

A. It would be pretty damn huge in my opinion, and I'd be very, very happy with it. It's a challenge that I'll have to take on board and try to achieve. It's not gonna be given to me. It's not gonna come easy and I have to make sure I'm on top of my game to be able to achieve it. But, yeah, it's one of those things that if I'm lucky enough for it to come around sooner rather than later, I'll be very happy.

Q. At this stage of your career, does starting a new season feel like a fresh start, or is it more about building from the previous one?

A. It's always a build from the previous. You always wanna continue to do more, continue to achieve more. It's never football or sports ministry. You never wanna drop off. You’ve always got something more to achieve the following season. Even if you have a good season the year before, you need to go and do it again. And that's the pressures of professional sport. You just have to go and do it again. So we're looking forward to that challenge both personally and as a team.

Q. Do you see your role on the pitch evolving, or do you simply adapt to the way the team is developing?

A. It's about molding with the team and becoming better as a unit. My game is pretty settled and pretty understandable in terms of what I can do. I'm not one with blistering pace, so I'm never gonna lose it. So that's good coming into my older years where I can actually still continue to do what I did when I was 22 years old. And, yeah, I feel fit and as good as ever. So it's about continuing that way.

Q. Marko Stamenic has been around the team in preseason. What have you seen from him, and how has he fitted in?

A. He's fitted in very well. He's brought into the dressing room really well, and the boys are talking to him, which is great. The boys are seeing his quality, and he shows that he's got a bit, which could help him to play in the Premier League one day, definitely. He's been a bit-part player as the preseason games have gone on. He's been able to get some minutes, but not as much as I'm sure he would like. But that's football and that's preseason for you. We're gearing up for a Premier League season. He's in and around it. He's training every day with us. He was in the squad last Saturday when we played the Saudi team. So he's there or thereabouts, ready to take on the chance if given an opportunity.

Q. With the whole Europa League and Europa Conference situation, how spicy do you think those Crystal Palace games will be this season?

A. Potentially, they will be. I mean, between us as players, I'm sure we're not too bothered. It was never down to us as players what happened and where everything went. We finished seventh and it is what it is. They won the FA Cup and did extremely well and obviously won the Community Shield at the weekend. For us as players, we don't get involved in that type of thing. We just get told where to play and turn up on the night to play. So, yeah, it might be a bit feisty between the fans, but for us as players, it's just another day at the office.

Q. You’ve mentioned the City Ground a few times. What have you come to appreciate about it as a home venue?

A. Look. There are a few special grounds around the country which really stand out. I'm lucky enough to have played in quite a few of them throughout the years. The historic grounds or the historic teams and fan bases in that sense, and Forest are another one. Everybody talks about the City Ground under the lights before you come, and you never get to really appreciate it until you actually play in it. We've seen it in the Premier League, and I believe in Europa League games, it's gonna be another level even more. So I'm sure that the first time we walk out in the City Ground in the Europa League, it's gonna be something very damn special.

Q. Across the rest of the Premier League, are there any away grounds you particularly enjoy or dislike playing at?

A. I don't really have a preference with any grounds or anything like that. It's all about just taking it on and taking the challenge on and trying to achieve. I like going back to my old clubs and being a part of that, seeing familiar faces, familiar stadiums that I'm used to, which is nice. And it brings back good memories. And, yeah, it's always tough going to the big teams to try and perform, but those are the challenges that we possess and try to do, and we were very good with that last year.

Q. Looking at the Kiwi players coming through, like Marco Stamenic and Tyler Bindon, how close do you think some are to breaking into the Premier League?

A. I think quite a few of them are very close. I think Tyler and Marco showed that they're capable if given the chance, and I'm sure they will get the chance in time, when the time's right or when a manager calls upon them. Tyler's move to Sheffield, I think, is a very, very smart one both for him and the club. I think he's gonna do extremely well there. It's a big club that will be pushing for promotion. So it's great to see. And then we've got boys around Europe doing extremely well. Oldie (Ben Old) started off on fire over the weekend with a goal and assist. Libby (Liberato Cacace) was fantastic on his debut for Wrexham. I watched it, and I think that's a great move for him. It's a foot inside the English door ready to take the progression into the Premier League when he gets the chance, because I believe he will get the chance sooner rather than later.

Q. What has your manager said to you personally over the off-season?

A. Just be ready to go again. He's one of those, let's just roll out and go again and enjoy the moment again. I have very much enjoyed playing under him. I very much enjoyed the way he works and the manner he is, and the person he is and his personality. I get on really well with him in that sense. And he's done great for myself personally and great for the club as well in general. So I think it's been a win-win for all of us.

Q. With the Thursday / Sunday turnaround of playing in Europe and the Premier League, how have you prepared for that?

A. I think in terms of squad rotation, that's down to the manager. He'll deal with it however he sees fit. I think it depends on home or away games, travel time, international games, that will always have an effect. So from the start, we're gonna have something like 55 games. It's going to be very tough, and it's going to be a long season. We’ll need the whole squad of 24 we've got in the building at the moment, and I'm sure we'll have a few more come through. So we're gonna need everybody and, yeah, rotation will probably have to come into effect because there's gonna be a lot of travelling. You’ve just got to deal with it and enjoy the challenge of being able to play in these types of competitions.

Q. Any particular country you’d like to travel to in the Europa League?

A. To be fair, Roma would probably be the best one. Going to Rome and playing Roma, that’d be nice. I think that’d be one that I’d be getting a lot of phone calls for tickets for. I'm sure I'll get a lot of phone calls for tickets already. I've already had a lot of people on to me about it. But, yeah, that one will be one that I think everybody would jump on and make a weekend of it, I'm sure.

Chris Wood's Nottingham Forest take on Brentford this Monday morning 1am NZT in their first match of the 25/26 Premier League season.

Article added: Thursday 14 August 2025