Burnley broke their club transfer record for the fourth time in 12 months earlier this week by signing forward Chris Wood from Leeds United.
The New Zealand international arrives at Turf Moor for a reported fee of £15m, potentially rising to £17m.
Speaking to the local press, manager Sean Dyche conceded that the new boy is unlikely to walk into the first XI, despite the recent departure of Andre Gray to Watford:
“His first challenge is that he’s got to get into the team. I’ve been quite happy with the team, the way it’s operated in pre-season and at the beginning of the season, so that’s his first job. But we’re really happy to have Chris here. He’s someone I’ve liked for a while and someone I still think has more to come. I think at 25 he’s still got more development in him. I think he’s hungry to do that, and he wants to do it here. That’s a big positive for us.”
After stints on the fringes at West Brom and Leicester City, Wood is determined to finally prove himself at the top level:
“My ambition has been to play in the Premier League for years. I’ve had tastes of being in there, but I’ve never had the chance to give it a proper bash. Coming here I feel I’ve got a proper opportunity to do that. I’ve never started a Premier League game and this what I want to do. The manager has given me a lot of confidence and backed me to bring me here, which is what you want. I’ve got goals and dreams that I want to achieve, and it starts here.”
The History
After rising through the ranks at a couple of local clubs in New Zealand, Wood was snapped up by West Brom back in 2009.
Despite a starring role for the Baggies’ youth side, he failed to convince at The Hawthorns and played just 21 times in four seasons, scoring only once.
That lack of pitch-time was mainly down to a series of loan stints in the lower leagues at the likes of Barnsley, Brighton, Birmingham, Bristol City, Millwall and Leicester.
Acquired by the Foxes on a permanent deal in 2013, he served up 13 goals and nine assists in 48 Championship appearances over the next two seasons, helping them to promotion ahead of the 2014/15 campaign.
Yet again, though, Wood was unable to nail down a regular role. Afforded seven outings from the bench, he scored once and was farmed out on loan to Ipswich Town, where he failed to find the net in eight matches.
But a switch to Leeds in the summer of 2015 provided the platform to establish himself as a consistent supplier of goals.
The frontman netted 40 times and chipped in with eight assists in 80 Championship outings across the last two seasons, finishing last term as the division’s top scorer, courtesy of 27 strikes.
By comparison, fellow promoted strikers Dwight Gayle and Glenn Murray netted 23 goals for Newcastle and Brighton respectively, as did Tammy Abraham for Bristol City.
Wood also bagged a goal and assist over three matches this season before making the switch to Lancashire.
On the international stage, he made his debut for New Zealand back in 2009 and has since gone on to score 20 goals in 52 appearances.
The Prospects
Standing six foot three, Wood boasts the attributes that seem tailor-made for the Clarets’ lone forward role.
Physically imposing, his ability to hold the ball up, battle with defenders and win aerial duels led to comparisons with Chelsea’s Diego Costa last term.
And they also look like key ingredients for a side that were third worst for possession (39.3%) and bottom for possession in the final third (32.4%) last season.
Despite Gray’s departure, then, it seems that the new boy is far more similar in style to Sam Vokes and will challenge the Welshman for pitch time.
In terms of minutes per shot, Gray just edged Vokes by 34.2 to 36.1 in 2016/17, albeit in a lesser league.
He also held the advantage for minutes per key pass (100.8 to 128.4), though when it came to successful headers, a ratio of 37.6% was some way behind Vokes’ 50.1%.
Indeed, the latter’s total of 206 successful headers – second only to Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke (318) – highlights Dyche’s preference for a target man up top.
Wood has a clear advantage for goal conversion, though, netting 25.5% of his efforts to Vokes’ 17.5%
Yet when you consider that Gray – with just 26 appearances in the first XI – started more league matches than any Burnley forward last season, Dyche’s penchant for rotation is a clear concern.
Certainly, Dyche’s comments on Wood suggest that he is looking to continue to alternate his options, seeking a “blend” in attack.
“It’s his [Wood’s] ability to score different types of goals. I think that’s always an effective weapon. He can score long strikes, headers, he can nick one, bundle one, that’s a good thing for a striker. He’s played up there a lot on his own and has done that well as well. I think he adds to the blend of strikers. I like our group of strikers here, and I’ve liked all of them since I’ve been here, they’ve all been effective in different ways.”
As it stands, Vokes certainly appears to be in the box seat. He’s started seven of the Clarets’ last eight league matches, scoring seven times, which includes a Gameweek 1 brace away to Chelsea.
That form suggests Wood will be eased into contention, with minutes from the bench more likely in the initial stages. He is named among the substitutes in tonight’s Carabao Cup tie with Blackburn Rovers.
Recently added to Fantasy Premier League, he’s marginally more expensive that Vokes in that offering (6.5 to 6.0) and the Sky Sports game (9.4 to 9.0).
Trips to Spurs, Everton, Liverpool and Man City between now and Gameweek 10 will dampen any enthusiasm, but that Gameweek 1 win at Chelsea, allied with a very promising home schedule, could yet force a reassessment.
Dyche’s men – who won 10 of their 19 matches at Turf Moor in 2016/17 – have seven strong matches (CRY HUD WHU NEW SWA WAT STK) in front of their own fans between now and Gameweek 17.
Yet having scored just 39 times last term – a total better than only the three relegated sides – Burnley will need to up their output before we can seriously consider the likes of Wood, or even midfielder Robbie Brady, as a possible value pick.
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