An update on New Zealand captain Chris Wood’s knee injury has offered encouragement for supporters of the All Whites and his Nottingham Forest club.
Wood (33) might be included in Forest’s squad to travel to face Liverpool in the English Premier League on Sunday (NZT).
At his pre-match media conference, Forest manager Sean Dyche said Wood would get another scan on the knee ahead of the match.
“Chris Wood is getting re-scanned, so we are checking up on that. But it is good news so far. Being re-scanned is just part of the process,” Dyche said.
“There is nothing untoward about it — it is just a check-up.”
Wood missed New Zealand’s November friendly internationals against Colombia and Ecuador, played in the United States, and missed Forest’s last two EPL games against Manchester United and Leeds United.
Wood has been receiving treatment for a knee injury he picked up during the October international window, and has yet to feature for Forest since Dyche replaced Ange Postecoglou as manager.
Asked how long it would take for Wood to return to the pitch, Dyche said: “It’s just a settling period on a knee injury. It’s a grumbling knee. It’s nothing too serious at this time but serious enough to stop him from loading it, basically … loading being daily impact, daily training.
“And it’s settling down. So we’re just getting part of the recovery period, is just to rescan and check where it’s at.
“He’s feeling good in himself, which is always a good sign. We’re managing to keep some of his fitness levels up, which is good, at the gym and stuff like that, and de-loading his knee, but it’s nothing serious at this stage, but has just taken a bit of a period to calm down.
“We’re hoping we’re towards the end of that period, back by the end of the month.”
Dyche praised Wood for the way he had developed into “a deeper football man” since the pair had worked together at Burnley.
“He’s rounded himself off and he’s a very strong professional now; not just his ability but his actual professional … his understanding.
“Last year, I marvelled at his pressing and his defending from the front.
“He’s improved that no end.”
Main photo: Chris Wood … getting closer to a return to match fitness.
Fixture
Game to be played on Sunday November 23, 2025 (NZT)
English Premier League
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Anfield, Liverpool, 4am (NZT)
This story was first published on November 22, 2025.