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\nAll Whites captain Chris Wood is on the comeback from injury.
\nPhoto: PHOTOSPORT\n<\/p>\n
All Whites captain Chris Wood’s road to recovery from a knee injury has taken many routes, but the striker has had positive news as he looks ahead to the path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n
Wood suffered the injury<\/a> in mid-October while playing in the English Premier League for Nottingham Forest and had surgery in December.<\/p>\n While he has been sidelined, Wood has watched Forest slip towards the relegation zone and fire a third manager this season.<\/p>\n “The easiest thing to say would be it’s part and parcel of football, but it’s been frustrating,” Wood said of his recovery in an interview recorded by Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n “The manner of the injury has not been perfect because we’ve tried different things, had setbacks, having to go down different routes with surgery and things like that. It’s not been smooth sailing.”<\/p>\n Wood said by “suffering through the lows” of this season it would help him “come back stronger and better”.<\/p>\n “It’s getting better day by day, which is great. Had some positive news yesterday from the surgeon to say I can get on to the next stages and things like that, so it’s better for my rehab now.<\/p>\n “I’ve got to do the right things to get back fit and ready.”<\/p>\n The 34-year-old said he was looking forward to returning to play before the end of the Premier League in May and the World Cup, which kicks off in June.<\/p>\n “There is a lot on the horizon which will be fantastic to be a part of, and the World Cup is definitely one of them.”<\/p>\n He will miss the All Whites’ FIFA Series<\/a> in Auckland next month.<\/p>\n The All Whites’ last warm-up game before the World Cup is against England<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Coming up against England will be a great occasion, a tough opponent for us\u2026 we’ve always wanted to pit ourselves against the best and England is definitely one of the best and one of the favourites for the World Cup, so it will be a good experience, for sure.”<\/p>\n Wood was recognised with The New Zealand Society’s inaugural Pride of New Zealand award in London last week<\/a>.<\/p>\n Aware of the influence he had on the next generation of football players in Aotearoa, Wood said he wanted to be an inspiration.<\/p>\n “We’ve had a lot of Kiwis playing across the world at great levels but we’ve only ever had six ever play in the Premier League, and that’s something you’ve got to be extremely proud [of].<\/p>\n “We want more Kiwis playing in the Premier League or playing at high levels around the world, and we’ve got quite a lot who do it, but hopefully there can be a lot more coming after seeing what can be achieved with Kiwis around the world.”<\/p>\n