If former West Ham United goalkeeper Joe Hart had not spent his years in the game keeping shots out of the net, he would have loved to be the one taking them at the other end of the pitch.
A two-time Premier League champion with Manchester City – well, before Pep Guardiola booted him out the back door that is – a prime-time Joe Hart more-than deserves his place alongside the Alissons, the Edersons, the David de Geas and the Peter Schmeichels.
Unfortunately for West Ham United, by the time the 75-cap England international arrived at the London Stadium in 2017, his best years were very much in the rearview mirror.
If Hart could have his time again, meanwhile, the former Hammers loanee would love to be a scorer of great goals rather than a preventer of them.
Centre-forwards of Chris Wood’s ilk are Hart’s personal favourite. Physical, throwback number nines.
And with Hammers News reporting last week that Nuno Espirito Santo is keen to work with Wood again in East London, the Nottingham Forest frontman could be following in Hart’s footsteps in the New Year.
Chris Wood explains his style as West Ham United eye Nottingham Forest striker
It can be revealed that West Ham are eyeing a potential loan deal for a New Zealand international who worked with Hart at Burnley.
A reliable if not quite prolific goalscorer during his time at Turf Moor, Wood hit new ground under Nuno in the Garibaldi red of Nottingham Forest. Only Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak and Golden Boot winner Mo Salah scored more than his 20 Premier League goals.
Wood also believes that one of that podium-sitting trio has brought about a revival of traditional centre-forwards after an era of false nines.
“I think Erling’s probably had a had a bigger hand in that since he’s stepped into the Premier League, doing so well as a number nine,” Wood explains, while highlighting the qualities he could potentially bring to West Ham.
“Just trying to bring back what was very fashionable back when I was coming through as a youngster. The two biggest [idols of mine] were Didier Drogba and Alan Shearer. Both pure number nines and goalscoring talents.
“[From them, I learned] mostly how to put the ball in the back of the net, trying to emulate what they do because they were extremely good at it.
“[I wanted to emulate them and] make sure to try and be a complete player, both holding the ball up for the team and then delivering chances or scoring the chances when supplied.”
Joe Hart highlights Wood’s role under Nuno Espirito Santo
West Ham suffered another Niclas Fullkrug-shaped blow on Friday when it emerged that the striker had torn a thigh muscle. This leaves Callum Wilson and Callum Marshall as Nuno’s only centre-forward options, as the Hammers fans hit out at a lack of foresight from the board.
It’s not as if Fullkrug – who has missed 30 games already for club and country since the beginning of last season – did not provide enough of a warning.
The 33-year-old Wood would be a short-term solution, should he arrive on a temporary deal, but a potentially inspired one.
“Chris Wood was so important under Nuno,” Hart adds, the new West Ham boss building his Forest attack around his star striker with spectacular results. “You know, he really really fitted into the club. He
was absolutely excellent. One of the top scorers in the Premier League.
“I actually worked with Chris Wood when I was at Burnley, and he’s a really good finisher. A really good
finisher. I’m really pleased for him.
“You know, he got that move to Newcastle. It didn’t quite work out how he wanted it to but, look, good players work in any system and Chris Wood will back himself.
“If I wasn’t a goalkeeper, oh my goodness me, I’d love to have been a number nine. That’s everything that I love about the game, and Chris Wood really fits into it. Erling Haaland, you know, even Rasmus Hojlund, he’s showing what he can do more at Napoli.”
