Ten clubs chasing Wood

Teenage striker wanted by Championship outfits

Last updated: 8th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ten clubs chasing Wood

Wood: Championship target

We might have to wait for other players to get better and then we will reassess the situation and see how it goes. A loan would benefit him.

Roberto Di Matteo
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West Brom say it is not certain that young striker Chris Wood will go out on loan, despite interest from 10 Championship clubs.

The 18-year-old, who represented New Zealand at the World Cup this summer, has been heavily linked with a loan move to Derby to help plug the gap left by recently departed frontman Rob Hulse.

But Baggies sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth insists the youngster's loan exit is not certain, despite the attention he has attracted from the second tier.

Interest

"We've had 10 Championship clubs in touch with us about Chris - not just Derby," Ashworth told the Express and Star.

"No deal has been agreed with any club yet and none will be agreed unless it suits West Bromwich Albion.

"I'm not surprised there is so much interest in him, because he has done very well for us last season and enjoyed a terrific World Cup.

"I would also remind everyone that at the moment he is in our first-team squad and came on against Liverpool at Anfield where he did very well.

"It is not yet set in stone that he will go on loan anywhere."

Despite the loan window now being open, Wood is likely to be named in the squad to face Tottenham at The Hawthorns on Saturday as fellow strikers Roman Bednar and Ishmael Miller struggle with injury.

Wood was handed a bench role for Albion's last league clash against the Reds, and manager Roberto Di Matteo has acknowledged his current importance in the squad.

"I am in favour of Chris Wood playing every weekend, but we saw last weekend how valuable Chris was for us," said Di Matteo.

"We have Miller injured for quite a substantial period of time and Bednar pulled out in the warm-up.

"We might have to wait for other players to get better and then we will reassess the situation and see how it goes. A loan would benefit him."