Wood has been a huge contribution to the Forest manager, scoring 20 goals in the Premier League last season and helping the club reach the top of European football for the first time in 30 years. This puts him tied for fourth place in the division, along with Brian Mbeumo and behind Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland.
The 33-year-old has helped bring the traditional number nine role back into fashion with his aerial ability and aggressive style of play.
“I’d like to think so,” he told TNT Sports about his role in the nostalgic No. 9 reenactment.
“Erling (Haaland) has probably played a bigger role in that respect since he stepped into the Premier League and has been doing great as a number nine.
“[I’m]just trying to bring back something that was so popular when I was younger.”
But which players had the biggest influence on young Wood growing up in New Zealand?
“The two big players were Didier Drogba and Alan Shearer,” he revealed. “He’s a pure No. 9 and has the talent to score goals.”
On what he has learned from them over the years, he added: “Mainly the way they put the ball in the back of the net, they were very good at that so I tried to emulate that.
“And don’t forget to strive to be the complete player, both holding the ball for the team and providing chances and scoring chances when provided.”
Wood is closing in on Chelsea icon Drogba’s 91st Premier League goal total, but has a long way to go to reach Shearer’s record of 260 goals.
Despite this, the New Zealander boasts an impressive record in front of goal and spoke about his journey to becoming one of the country’s best strikers.
Since arriving in England with West Bromwich Albion in 2009 as a 17-year-old, Wood has enjoyed several loan spells before rising to the top flight.
He has won eight games in total, including a short loan spell at Forest before signing a permanent contract in 2023, six of which came during his time at West Brom between 2010 and 2013.
Including the Baggies, Wood has six permanent clubs in England and is grateful for that journey, which he believes has shaped him into the player he is today.
“I think I believed very strongly that I wasn’t going to play for West Brom’s first team,” he explained.
“We had just been promoted to the Premier League and needed an experienced striker, especially if we were to have a consistent run in the Premier League.
“I was 18, 19 years old. Teams aren’t going to bring in as many young players as main players, so I had to go elsewhere and play my football and apply my trade.
“I and everyone around me believed that the best way was to take out a loan, and I truly believe that’s why I’ve gotten this far.
“I was able to experience different leagues, understand men’s soccer and the game from a young age, and strive to get better as the season progressed.”
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