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Nottingham Forest are hopeful Chris Wood can play a part in the final five games of their battle for survival.
Last season’s top scorer has not featured since the 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea on October 18, which was Ange Postecoglou’s final game in charge, due to a knee injury.
Wood scored 20 times in the Premier League last season and Forest have missed him desperately. This season he has appeared just eight times in the league, scoring twice.
As a result, Forest have 28 goals in 30 top-flight matches this term – the main reason why they are above the relegation zone on goal difference alone. The return of Wood before the end of the campaign could make the difference.
Though he has not yet rejoined training with the first-team squad, the 34-year-old is working outdoors and will hope to step up his recovery during the upcoming international break. Daily Mail Sport understands Forest are quietly optimistic that they will see him again before the season is out.
Forest travel to fellow strugglers Tottenham on Sunday for what could prove a decisive fixture for both sides.
Chris Wood hit 20 goals last season and Forest have struggled desperately without him
After that, Vitor Pereira’s side do not have a game until April 9 at the earliest – the scheduled date for the first leg of a Europa League quarter-final.
To reach that stage, Forest must overturn a deficit after losing the home leg 1-0 to FC Midtjylland last Thursday.
Though Pereira is expected to take senior players to Denmark for Thursday’s second leg, he has said he will rotate heavily, meaning Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson are likely to be rested, along with Ibrahim Sangare and Neco Williams.
In their last five games, Forest take on Newcastle and Bournemouth at home, and Sunderland, Chelsea and Manchester United away.