Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood’s return from injury is being viewed as a critical factor in the club’s fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League. Wood, sidelined for nearly six months with a knee injury, made his comeback during the first leg of Forest’s Europa League quarter-final against Porto, playing 45 minutes in a match that ended 1-1 in Portugal.

Winger Samba Ndoye emphasized Wood’s importance not only for his goal-scoring ability but also for his leadership on and off the pitch. Speaking ahead of Forest’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, Ndoye highlighted the significance of having the squad’s key players available as the team navigates a congested fixture schedule. “It is really important to have all the players available, especially someone like Chris, who scores a lot of goals,” Ndoye said. “We need all the players, particularly when you are playing every three days. This could be the difference. He is a leader for us. And yes, it is important to have him back.”

Forest’s performance in Portugal showed resilience, as they secured a valuable away draw to keep their hopes of reaching a European semi-final alive. However, Ndoye pointed out the need to shift focus back to domestic matters. “It is a big contrast between the league and Europe but we need to focus on Villa,” he noted. He also referred to Forest’s recent upswing in form with a win against Tottenham and their strong display in the Europa League, stressing the importance of maintaining that level until the season’s end.

The upcoming match against Aston Villa carries additional weight as both clubs could potentially meet again in the Europa League semi-finals if they progress. While Forest prepare to host Porto in the second leg next week, Villa hold a 3-1 advantage heading into their return fixture against Bologna at Villa Park. Despite the tantalizing prospect of an all-English European showdown, Ndoye insisted the focus remains firmly on immediate challenges. “First of all, we have to beat Porto before we see what is in the next round,” he said.

Forest’s home game against Aston Villa thus represents a pivotal moment in their Premier League survival bid, with Wood’s return providing a timely boost as the club juggles ambitions on both domestic and European fronts.