All Whites striker Chris Wood is back in the treatment room at Newcastle United after leaving the pitch early in a friendly match, clutching his back.
Wood (31) came off the pitch in the first half of Newcastle’s 5-0 win against Al Hilal in the Diriyah Season Cup, played in Saudi Arabia.
It was reminiscent of his withdrawal from the September international at Auckland’s Eden Park when he left the pitch against Australia, clearly in pain with a rib problem.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said Wood had a ‘tight back’ and felt he couldn’t continue.
However, he saw the substitution of Wood as a precaution and said: “I think Chris has just got a back problem. I don’t think it’s too bad.”
If the injury keeps Wood out of the United side, he might miss his chance to get back into the starting line-up, especially as the side’s preferred starters are Callum Wilson (at the World Cup with England) and Alexander Isak (out with a thigh injury).
Wood would likely get the chance to shine in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup clash with Bournemouth on December 21.
Main photo: Chris Wood … looking for chance to force his way back into Newcastle United’s starting line-up.
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