Soccer: Target man with opening goal

All Whites striker Chris Wood gets a strike on goal that just misses. Photo / Brett Phibbs

One of the youngest players at this year's World Cup in South Africa, Chris Wood came close to scoring his first international goal against Italy - a strike that would have secured a stunning victory over the holders. Today at North Harbour Stadium, Wood will again try to open his All Whites account against more humble opponents.

The striker gets his chance to impress, with a place in a three-pronged attack alongside Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen, with Rory Fallon out injured, for tonight's game against Honduras.

Given the physical presence he brings, Wood is a natural to assume the target role Fallon took in the latter stages of the World Cup campaign.

"If that's what they want, I can take the target man role," said Wood yesterday. "It would be another responsibility to take on the job Rory did so well for five games."

Following Fallon would be nothing new.

In pressing his English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion to agree to a loan deal with Barnsley, Wood has followed a number of other New Zealand players, including Fallon, to the club.

"Barnsley approached West Brom specifically for me," said Wood. "It was basically my idea. When I got back from the World Cup I looked around and realised you don't see many 18-year-olds playing regularly in the Premier League so I could see the chance of more game time by going elsewhere.

"It was very obvious when I got there [to Barnsley] just how strong the Kiwi connection is and how well-received New Zealand players are. My loan deal finishes on December 24. Who knows what will happen after that."

From those early days with Onehunga Sports - the club coached by All Whites assistant coach Brian Turner this winter - and a season with Onehunga Mangere - "on the mountain" - Wood moved to Cambridge where he went to St Pauls Collegiate and played under Roger Wilkinson at Waikato FC.

"Roger had a huge influence on my career and I am grateful for that. He arranged the trial with West Brom and it has just gone from there."

Eligible for the London 2010 Olympics, Wood would love to get the chance to play there.

"It would be great - just two hours down the road from where I live in Birmingham rather than halfway around the world," said Wood who had a month off after the World Cup campaign, his first break in three years, but is now back doing what he loves most.

A goal tonight would be the icing on that cake.

CHRIS WOOD

Date of birth: December 12 1991
Born: Auckland
Senior clubs: Waikato FC, West Brom, Barnsley
International caps: 12
International debut: v Tanzania June 3 2009
Other international honours: Under-17 2007
Position: Striker