Eddie Howe has heaped praise on former Leeds United striker Chris Wood ahead of the Magpies game against the Whites on New Year's Eve. The Whites have been linked with a move for the £25million striker in January, prior to Callum Wilson's recent illness.
Newcastle are currently third in the Premier League after a stellar start to the campaign, but Wood has been on the fringes of Howe's squad after moving to the club in January last year. The Magpies head coach wasted no time in meeting Burnley's £25million release clause, with Newcastle in need of additions in the final third.
Wood helped the Magpies stave off relegation and secure a mid-table finish, despite being one of the favourites for relegation. The arrival of Alexander Isak and Wilson's rich vein of form in front of goal, has seen Wood drop down the pecking order, but with both out injured in recent weeks, the New Zealand international has returned to the fray and is back amongst the goals.
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Howe is set to check in on Wilson in the days leading up to the clash against Jesse Marsch's side, after the striker pulled out of their 3-0 win over Leicester due to illness. Howe told ChronicleLive: "He’s [Wood] never let us down since the day he arrived at the football club. He’s a brilliant professional away from the pitch, very hardworking, and trains really well.
"Whenever we’ve called upon him, he’s always produced in terms of our tactical and pressing plans to the highest level. I thought he was very good tactically and scored a huge penalty for us. He’s been very good from those situations. Full credit to Chris.”
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