AUCKLAND – Hamilton teenager Chris Wood joined an elite club of Kiwis to play in the FA Premiership, when coming off the bench for West Bromich Albion against Portsmouth on Sunday.
Entering the game as a 75th minute substitute, Wood went close to completing a dream debut with a dramatic winner but headed Jonathan Greening’s 88th minute corner over the bar in a 2-2 draw at Portsmouth’s Fratton Park.
The 17-year-old becomes the fifth New Zealander after Lee Norfolk (Ipswich), Danny Hay (Leeds), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn) and Simon Elliott (Fulham) – to have played in the English Premier League.
The former Hamilton Wanderers and Waikato FC striker has been in a rich vein of form for the Baggies’ U-18 team, scoring 12 goals in his last 10 FA Premier Academy League games, and marking a call-up to the reserve team last month with a goal on debut.
An injury to West Brom’s top scorer Roman Bednar lead to an eleventh hour call-up for Wood, and the former Young All White (NZ U-17) drew plaudits from club captain Jonathan Greening.
“I thought Chris was excellent when he came on,” Greening told the club’s website.
“If you work hard as a young lad, you’ll get your chances. He’s done well this season and has been thrown in at the deep end.
"The gaffer [Tony Mowbray] is not afraid to put young lads in if he thinks they’re good enough."
Wood earned a trial at the Hawthornes-based club after impressing at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea. He was selected for last year’s Junior All Whites for U-20 World Cup qualifiers in Tahiti, although withdrew with club commitments.
Story and photo courtesy of NZF Media
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