Chris Wood injury latest from Nuno Espirito Santo ahead of Nottingham Forest vs West Ham

Chris Wood is dealing with a knock ahead of Nottingham Forest’s clash with West Ham on Saturday, with Nuno Espirito Santo saying further assessment his needed before the game.

The New Zealand international has been in sparkling form so far this season, scoring seven goals in the opening nine Premier League contests.

The 32-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down, scoring twice in Forest’s last outing, a 3-1 win at Leicester City.

However, he is one of a number of players who Espirito Santo is monitoring ahead of the meeting with the Hammers, along with Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson and Jota Silva.

‘Morgan is one of the players inside that group that we have to assess and see how he is. Chris (Wood) also, and Elliot and Jota. They have knocks,’ said the Forest boss.

‘It was a tough one for Morgan; a painful one. He is better now. He is going to plan. The squad has the solutions we have to find. But it is not the same without him, because he brings us something different.

‘It is always the same — after a period of the season with some hard matches, players get knocks and injuries, players coming back. We have to assess them tomorrow.’

Despite the knock, The Athletic report that Wood is expected to play on Saturday at the City Ground.

Espirito Santo further explained Anderson’s injury issue, with the summer signing from Newcastle having been in impressive form recently.

‘Elliot, in the game against Palace, somebody stood on his foot and it was very painful. He was able to play against Leicester, but he has been having treatment on it,’ said the manager.

‘It is painful for him, but he is putting everything he has into being available to play at the weekend. We will assess him tomorrow. There are a few players we need to be careful over, we need to make the right decisions. But this is what we are here for.’

Nottingham Forest are proving to be the surprise package of the season so far, sitting seventh in the Premier League table after nine games.

The Tricky Trees have lost just one of those nine matches and have been the only team to beat Liverpool so far.

West Ham have been less impressive, down in 13th, but they did beat Manchester United last weekend and sealed Erik ten Hag’s fate as he was sacked a day later.