Chris Wood says he could not have had a better compliment than the one he received from Alan Shearer after his first Newcastle United goal at St James' Park.
Shearer was quick to post his admiration for Wood after he first won the penalty following a Joelinton through ball and then hammered it home against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Shearer said on social media: "Nice pen Chris Wood. At last a bit of quality going forward in getting the penalty."
When asked if he could not have had better backing from a former star, Wood told Chronicle Live: "Most definitely - he's a legend, not just in football but around the world. It's very nice.
"If you can do a quarter of what he's done at St James' Park you'd be a very proud man. It's nice to get on the scoresheet and it's nice to see the team progressing really well."
On a night in which Wood had seen a goal chalked off for offside, he then had to face a nervous wait as referee Peter Bankes waited for a VAR verdict for any infringements. But the penalty stood and Wood finished calmly in front of an expectant Gallowgate End.
Wood added: "You just take your time and relax, keep yourself cool. It's something we've all been through as penalty takers before. It might take a little bit longer now with VAR there. But you just need to relax a bit more.
"Callum Wilson could tell you that he's been through it as well. You just have to relax and bide your time a bit more and be ready for it."
And reflecting on his disallowed effort at the Leazes End in the first half, Wood said: "The first one got taken away which is unfortunate but you know opportunities are going to come again so you just have to be ready for them. We know what this place can be like and it is coming back to that.
"It's fantastic over the last six months, I think we've gone on to a different level. You can tell how much they help us and the energy they bring. Especially those difficult moments they bring us through. "It has been a pleasure playing here."
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