New Zealand boss hopeful Chris Wood has avoided serious injury after latest setback

Chris Wood reacts after sustaining an injury
Chris Wood reacts after sustaining an injuryAction Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers

New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley said Chris Wood ⁠does not appear to have suffered a serious injury after the ‌Nottingham Forest forward limped out of their Europa ‌League win over Porto before half-time ‌on Thursday.

New Zealand's captain and leading ‌goalscorer is set to play a key ‌role for the All Whites at the World Cup in North America, with ‌their first game against Iran set ⁠for June ‌15.

The 34-year-old, who only returned to action ​this month following a lengthy layoff due to a knee injury ​which required surgery, was substituted early in the first half after a heavy ⁠tackle by ​Porto defender Jan Bednarek, who was shown a straight red card.

Forest won the second leg of their quarter-final 1-0 to ‌advance 2-1 on aggregate.

"While you obviously never want to see our players go down injured, the impact was on the other knee to where he recently had surgery," Bazeley said in a statement to New Zealand media.

"He will be assessed by Forest but ‌it doesn't sound like it is ​as serious as it first looked, ‌thankfully."

New Zealand will also face Egypt and Belgium in Group G as they return to the World Cup for the first time since the ⁠2010 edition in ⁠South Africa.

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