Eddie Howe paid tribute to the in-form Chris Wooden forward of reuniting with the previous Newcastle United ahead once they face Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Howe’s Newcastle are at present seventh within the Premier League desk, trailing the highest 4 by three factors, and might go to inside a degree of third-placed Forest with victory at St James’ Park.
The Magpies offered Wooden to Forest two years in the past with first-team alternatives having turn out to be restricted for the New Zealander, having joined the earlier 12 months.
Nevertheless, he has flourished on the Metropolis Floor, and sits third within the Premier League’s Golden Boot standings with 18 objectives this season.
“I believe he has been excellent,” Howe mentioned. “Chris, when he got here to us, helped us in a very troublesome scenario combating relegation.
“We felt we wanted a focus in that place, any individual who might take numerous strain off of us as a staff and provides us a bodily presence. I assumed he did all of these issues and was excellent for the staff.
“I’m delighted for him on a private degree as a result of he is a superb character, and gave every part for us.”
Howe additionally mentioned defender Sven Botman is “not fairly prepared” to function on this sport.
The Swede has made simply 5 first-team appearances this season, with solely three coming within the Premier League. His final look got here in the beginning of the month, in Newcastle’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal within the EFL Cup semi-final second leg.
“I don’t suppose he might be match and obtainable for this weekend,” Howe added. “We’re going to must see how issues stand over the weekend for subsequent week.
“He’s making progress, however simply not as shortly as we wished him to. He’s very a lot on observe, simply not fairly prepared.”
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, in the meantime, is searching for enhancements from his staff, following a 2-1 defeat away to Fulham final day out.
Regardless of being third within the Premier League, Forest come into this match with simply two victories from their final 5 video games within the division, and there have been options their kind has began to say no.
“We have now to compete higher. That’s what we might be attempting to do,” Nuno mentioned. “We’re reaching the second of the season the place everybody might be combating for their very own aims.
“We have now competed effectively and that is what we anticipate within the closing stage of the season. The video games might be harder, and we’ve to cope with every part that’s throughout – the expectations, our personal beliefs and moments of the gamers.
“I don’t change my strategy. We have now to maintain the identical routine and strategy it daily – have a look at all the main points which allow us to compete effectively. That is what we’re centered on.”
Again to SJP!
#NEWFOR pic.twitter.com/PFmzhTfPga
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) February 19, 2025
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Newcastle United – Alexander Isak
Though he has gone two Premier League video games with out a aim, Newcastle ahead Isak has scored in all three of his appearances towards Forest (4 objectives).
5 Newcastle gamers have scored in 4 successive matches towards a single opponent, most just lately Callum Wilson towards Tottenham between 2020 and 2023.
Isak has scored 19 objectives in all competitions, together with 17 within the Premier League – the fourth-most within the division.
Nottingham Forest – Chris Wooden
Wooden has scored 29 Premier League objectives in 41 appearances below Nuno for Forest, together with eight in his final seven.
Amongst all gamers to have 50 or extra photographs whereas taking part in for a supervisor on file since 2003-04, Wooden below Nuno has the perfect shot conversion price (35%, 29 objectives from 83 photographs).
MATCH PREDICTION: NEWCASTLE WIN
Newcastle have misplaced simply certainly one of their 13 Premier League conferences with Forest (gained 9, drawn three), although that defeat did come on this precise fixture final season (3-1).
Forest have misplaced their final two away video games within the league and are aiming to keep away from dropping a 3rd on the bounce for the primary time since December 2023.
Newcastle come into this match having gained 12 of their final 15 video games in all competitions, together with seven out of 10 within the Premier League.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Newcastle United – 51.4%
Draw – 23.3%
Nottingham Forest – 25.4%
