A thigh injury to All Whites striker Chris Wood will make for a nervous wait by national team coaching staff as his Nottingham Forest club evaluates how serious it is.
Wood (31) is due to head to New Zealand in little over a week to play two games against China, in Auckland and Wellington, during the March international window.
Wood was forced to leave the pitch only six minutes after coming off Forest’s bench in their weekend English Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur, which Forest lost 3-1.
Head coach Steve Cooper told the Nottingham Post:
“Woody was just so unfortunate. He goes on, and in his first moment in the game, he gets a really bad knock to his thigh which really swells up instantly like you wouldn’t believe.
“He tried to carry on with it, but it was just impossible.
“When he came to the halfway line and I saw it, I knew he wouldn’t be able to carry on, even though he tried. That was really unfortunate.”
Main photo: Chris Wood … ‘bad knock to his thigh’.
Mata continues scoring form
Recalled All Whites forward Max Mata kept up his good start to the new League of Ireland season, scoring from the spot in stoppage time to earn his Sligo Rovers side a 2-2 draw against Cork City.
Mata has scored four goals in Rovers’ five games.
Fixtures
Games to be played on Thursday March 23, 2023
New Zealand U-22 v China PR
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, 3pm (NZT)
All Whites v China PR
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, 7pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Sunday March 26, 2023
New Zealand U-22 v China PR
Sky Stadium, Wellington, 12.30pm (NZT)
All Whites v China PR
Sky Stadium, Wellington, 4pm (NZT)
READ MORE: Incentive launched for Flybuys members who buy tickets for All Whites games >>>>
Tickets
Tickets are available from $20 to $80 (adult) and $10 to $40 (children aged 2-14).
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