Credit: Imago

James Barker

Wed 18 March 2026 18:40, UK

Nottingham Forest are reportedly hopeful that Chris Wood will be back for the final five games of the season, which could see West Ham United‘s survival chances decrease.

With just eight games of the Premier League season to go, West Ham and Nottingham Forest are locked together on 29 points in 18th and 17th respectively.

As such, every piece of injury news, good or bad, and each point gained or dropped could now make all the difference between who survives, and who falls into the Championship.

West Ham travel to Aston Villa on Sunday hoping to capitalise on the Villans’ poor run of form recently, whilst Forest’s next league game is a trip to Tottenham on Sunday in a huge relegation six-pointer.

Nottingham Forest earmark Chris Wood for imminent return

West Ham’s survival chances grew after the Man City draw, which was a huge result for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side both for the precious point it put on the board, as well as for belief and confidence levels in the group.

But like in any season when we start reaching the business end of things, twists and turns are always just around the corner, with the odds of staying up ever shifting between teams with each passing game.

However, Nottingham Forest’s chances of surviving the dreaded drop may be about to receive a major boost, and it’s via their big striker, Wood.

As per a report from Tom Collomosse for the Daily Mail, Forest are hoping that Wood can return from his long-held knee injury to play a part in the final five games of the season.

The 34-year-old centre-forward fired home 20 goals in 36 Premier League games last season for Forest, but hasn’t kicked a ball in anger since their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on 18 October 2025.

Collomosse’s report claims that whilst Wood hasn’t yet got back involved in group training, he has been working outdoors and is now set to step up his recovery during the upcoming international break.

It’s reported that Forest are “quietly optimistic” that he will be seen again in the Garibaldi before the season is done, with their final five being against: Sunderland, Chelsea, Newcastle, Man United and Bournemouth respectively.

Wood gives Forest something West Ham don’t have

Scoring goals have been a major issue for both West Ham and Nottingham Forest this season, with the Hammers netting 36 times whilst Forest have scored just 28 times respectively.

However, Forest can attribute a lot of that down to Wood’s absence, whereas the Irons don’t really have any excuses other than the fact they’ve simply not been good enough in front of goal.

Wood is a proven and deadly goalscorer at Premier League level, and gives Forest a real focal point up front from which they can formulate attacking approaches around.

West Ham just don’t have that big, physical, battering ram-type striker, nor do they have a current proven goalscorer, as Callum Wilson’s production has slowed over the last few seasons.

Make no mistake, if Forest do indeed get the big New Zealander back with at least a handful of games to go, then the veteran marksman could deal a killer blow to West Ham’s chances of finishing above the Garibalidis.