Chris Wood officially departed Newcastle United on Friday, leaving Tyneside to join Nottingham Forest in their battle against Premier League relegation. Wood's time in the north east summed up? 12 months. 5 goals. £25m.
Depending who you ask, Wood has either been a valued squad player who did a decent job for the club, or a disappointing addition. flop. He will go down in the eyes of many as the only piece of transfer business from 2022 that didn't work out.
That, in part, is down to the significant fee Newcastle paid for his services. Handing £25m to Burnley one year ago, in hindsight, was arguably too much money. However, it's easy to forget Wood was a prolific scorer in claret and blue.
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The New Zealand forward was one of just eight Premier League players to score double-digit league goals in each of the four seasons before joining Newcastle. Only Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Mohamed Salah could boast the same record.
His arrival severely depleted Burnley, who at the time were a relegation rival of Newcastle's, and forced them into the market for a replacement late in the window. Now, the Magpies are the ones now scrambling for added attacking firepower.
Upon arrival at Newcastle, Wood struggled to adapt to the system used by Eddie Howe - even as Newcastle strolled clear of the danger zone towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign. The 31-year-old only found the net twice in black and white last term and has only added a further three in all competitions since the summer.
While goals may not have arrived as many expected, Wood has still played a vital part in a tremendous 12 months for Newcastle. With Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak both struggling to stay fit of late, the striker has led the line in a manner that has pleased Howe.
Whatever anybody thinks of Wood's brief stint at the club, he made 22 appearances this season during one of the greatest form runs this club has ever enjoyed.
For Howe, Wood's contribution off the pitch was of equal importance to his goalscoring exploits. The Newcastle boss was keen to praise the departing striker's professionalism on Friday, telling reporters the player had played a huge role in Newcastle's success in the last year. “He’s been a huge player for us, he’s been outstanding in every way," he said.
"When we signed him we were in a difficult position, he played a huge role on the pitch and helped transform the team. This season he’s been excellent on and off the pitch in terms of his leadership and positivity, we can’t underestimate the role he’s played.”
Howe has hinted Wood's replacement will be a player for the future, all-but confirming the Newcastle's transfer strategy in the wake of Dan Ashworth saying signing players for the 'here and now' is unsustainable for the club.
A younger forward may provide better results on the pitch but Wood's contribution to the dressing room may not be matched by his replacement. The former Burnley man has never once let his head drop during his Newcastle stint, even admitting to Chronicle Live last month that he saw his long-term future at St James' Park.
Much of Newcastle's success this term has been down to the spirit in the dressing room and the determination of the fringe players to play their part in any way they can. The likes of Jamaal Lascelles, Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett, all of whom were previously key players in the squad, and Wood have helped Newcastle become mentality monsters in recent months.
Howe's public displays of affection towards these players at the end of a game is noticeable - even when they do not make it off the bench in the 90 minutes. That is why Wood's exit is not all good news.
Forest are gaining a top pro - one that will undoubtedly play a big effort in helping them survive the drop - and Newcastle are losing a valued and liked member of their first-team.
The hunt is now on for a third-choice striker to fill the void before the end of January. As Wood bids farewell, supporters should look beyond his goal struggles when assessing his Newcastle journey.
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