Nottingham Forest’s pre-season has already offered one clear reminder: Chris Wood is being managed with care, and for good reason. The forward did not take part in the 2-1 win over Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the City Ground, but Oliver Glasner has now said he is hopeful the striker will be available for Sunday’s match against Brest.
That update matters because Wood is not being handled like a player in a routine summer spell. Glasner explained that Forest are taking no risks after a difficult last season and a very long injury, with Wood also dealing with a very minor muscle problem. He was given time off after New Zealand’s World Cup campaign, then withdrawn before kick-off for the Udinese match at the weekend, so the club have clearly been cautious about how quickly they bring him back.
What Glasner said
The Forest manager said Wood already trained today, but the final test will come across Friday and Saturday. If those sessions go without issues, Glasner said, Wood will play on Sunday. That is a useful sign for Forest, even if it is not yet a guarantee.
Glasner also stressed that Wood knows exactly what is required at this level. In his view, the point is not to explain the Premier League to an experienced forward, but to keep him fit and avoid unnecessary setbacks. That is the logic behind the cautious approach, especially with Forest building toward their first Premier League fixture against Leeds United.
Why the update matters
For Forest, this is less about one friendly and more about availability. Wood’s presence changes the shape of the attack, and his readiness becomes more important as the fixtures move toward more meaningful tests. Even in pre-season, the message is clear: Forest would rather lose a friendly selection than create a bigger problem for the weeks ahead.
So the short answer is yes, Wood could be available to face Brest on Sunday. The longer answer is that Forest will only know for sure after Friday and Saturday, and that cautious stance says plenty about where he stands in their plans.
