Soccer: Wood set to face club versus country choice

Chris Wood may not be able to take his club form to the Under-20 World Cup. File photo / Brett Phibbs

After a far from ideal start, Chris Wood has enjoyed his best season yet in British football - but is not sure if he will play in New Zealand's Under-20 World Cup campaign.

He had to drop down two divisions but the powerful All Whites striker has found form, fitness - and a degree of fame - on the South Coast with Brighton.

The Seagulls grabbed the headlines as they topped the league to win promotion to the Championship.

They also embarked on an FA Cup run all the way to the sixth round, knocked out by eventual finalists Stoke. Wood played a pivotal role, scoring nine goals in 24 appearances and forming a crucial element of their strikeforce.

Such success looked unlikely back in November. After making just two substitute appearances at West Bromwich Albion (one goal), the Premier League club sent him to Barnsley on loan.

Oakwell has been something of a Kiwi depot in recent times, with Rory Fallon, Leo Bertos, David Mulligan and Jeremy Christie among those who have played there.

By his own admission, Wood did not perform well in his limited opportunities there (seven games off the bench; no goals) and Barnsley opted not to extend the deal. He was headed back to the Hawthorns when the Seagulls swooped, with manager Gus Poyet saying he was an "exciting talent with great potential".

"I didn't know what to expect in League One but I knew I needed a full season somewhere," recalls Wood. "At the time Brighton were top of the league and playing good football so you couldn't really ask for anything more."

As you go down the ladder in British football steel tends to supplant style; it is fight over flair, passion over precision.

"It is a very physical league but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," says Wood. "Most of the defenders would give you a kick or two during the game but you just have to handle it."

"There are five or six teams that try to play football so it depends who you were playing against. At Brighton we tried to play out from the back and we always stuck to that strategy and style. You didn't always have to fight or dog around like you would think League One would be like."

There was plenty of pedigree. Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton were all in the Premier League in recent years as well as Notts County and Swindon not so long ago. One week he would be playing in front of 30,000 at Southampton, the next in more circumspect (but no less passionate surroundings) like Yeovil or Dagenham and Redbridge.

"At places like that the pitch was a mess and you just have to try and fight your way through those kind of games."

His goal haul included a crucial brace against fellow promotion contenders Peterborough and the opening salvo in a 3-1 win over fierce rivals (and 2010 FA Cup finalists) Portsmouth in the FA Cup fifth round.

"All my strengths have got better and I have tried to fine-tune my weaknesses. I wasn't really getting a shot at West Brom to put things I learn in training into game-related situations. Down there, I could try a lot more and it developed me as a player."

Wood also enjoyed playing under Chelsea and Spurs legend Poyet: "He's a great man manager and knows the boundaries," says Wood. "He would be nice when we deserve it; when we weren't doing our jobs, we saw his tough side."

Brighton had finished 18th, 7th, 16th and 13th in recent seasons - and in the late 1990s were twice just one place away from dropping out of the football league altogether - so their success was joyfully received.

As a club, they are best remembered for the 1983 FA Cup final against Manchester United, when their striker Gordon Smith blew a gilt-edged chance to score in the final minute.

That piece of BBC commentary - "And Smith must score" has become part of football folklore and is the title of the club fanzine.

Wood is a certainty to line up for the All Whites against Australia and Mexico in June, but remains unsure about the under-20 World Cup in August in Colombia, as it will clash with pre-season training at West Brom. Despite some progress, the young All Whites are crying out for a goalscoring target man like Wood.

" I would like to play for my country at whatever level but it is down to my club and if they are willing to let me go. Everybody in football knows that pre season is very important - it is the time when you need to put your name forward."

Ryan Nelsen took a similar club-before-country approach in his early years at Blackburn but former All White Fred de Jong says there should only be one option for Wood.

"I would be flabbergasted if someone choose pre-season over a World Cup," says de Jong. "He will be playing anyway, getting himself fit in good games and it is a great shop window and another chance to impress."

Wood's pro career

* West Bromwich Albion: 27 games, 3 goals

* Barnsley: 7 games, 0 goals

* Brighton & Hove Albion: 24 games, 9 goals