The revival of the traditional number nine has gained momentum.

Chris Wood is helping the big target player get back into fashion after his electrifying start to the season for Nottingham Forest.

The 32-year-old scored twice in the second half to help his current side beat his former team, Leicester City, on Friday and catapult them to fifth place in the Premier League.

Only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (10) has scored more goals in the league this season than the New Zealand international’s seven goals.

Since Nuno Espírito Santo’s first game as Forest manager on December 23, 2023, only Haaland (18) has scored more league goals without penalties than Wood’s tally of 17.

While the pair lead the top flight’s goalscoring charts and Norwegian Haaland is also a strong physical presence up front, Wood is delighted with the return of the old-fashioned centre-forward.

“We want to try to bring it back, otherwise I’ll be out of a job,” he said. “For a while, the small centre-forward or mixed role with the number 10 and the number nine kind of became fashionable.”

“Luckily Erling came along and made it fashionable again. He’s got a lot of pace and power, some things I don’t have, but it makes it easier for us number nine.”

Wood, who also scored the winner in Monday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, is level with Stan Collymore on 22 Premier League goals for Forest after his brace at the King Power Stadium, with only Bryan Roy (24) having more goals scored club in the competition.

He scored his first goal after a lovely turn and finish two minutes into the second half, before taking advantage of Wout Faes’ mistake and nodding over a stranded Mads Hermansen on the hour mark.

Talk of the Golden Boot may have been fanciful at the start of the season, but Wood is currently in that category.

He told Sky Sports: “I just want to keep scoring as many goals as I can. He (Haaland) is a very impressive man and will probably score 30 goals this season.”

The former West Brom and Leeds striker has also scored a goal for New Zealand this season, in a 3-0 win over Tahiti.

Wood was signed from Newcastle for £15 million in 2023 by current Leicester manager Steve Cooper and has scored 23 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions for Forest after an initial loan spell.

Last season he scored three goals in 15 games before Nuno arrived. The Portuguese coach replaced Cooper 11 months ago and Wood went on to score 11 goals in 16 appearances – and is enjoying life under the former Wolves and Tottenham head coach.

“He came into the game and put the emphasis on getting the balls into the box and getting people into the box,” he added. “It takes good care of Taiwo (Awoniyi) and me. We are big center forwards who love deliveries and crosses.”

“This is what we live by. He worked on that on the training pitch and luckily it worked.”