Newcastle: Wood can add different dynamic

Chris Wood’s new manager reckons the All Whites striker can add a ‘‘different dynamic’’ to Newcastle United after a quiet start at his new English Premier League club.

Wood made his run-on debut in Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Watford before over 52,000 fans at St James’ Park yesterday.

The 30-year-old, who joined the Magpies midweek after a $50 million transfer from Burnley, did not get on the scoresheet after missing a couple of half-chance headers in the first half.

Former England international turned media pundit Paul Merson labelled Wood’s effort as ‘‘poor’’, but Newcastle’s manager Eddie Howe and goal scorer Allan Saint-Maximin were more positive.

‘‘Chris Wood did well,’’ Howe said at his post-match press conference.

‘‘He competed and gave us a different dynamic. I thought he was a little bit isolated towards the end of the game so we need to look at that.’’

Saint-Maximin, who fired Newcastle ahead in the 49th minute, told the BBC that Wood ‘‘can give a lot to Newcastle’’.

‘‘He needs more time to know how to play with the players but I think he will help the team,’’ the Frenchman said. ‘‘He is a big guy and can score important goals for Newcastle. We really need him to win games.

The Newcastle Chronicle newspaper awarded Wood a 6 out of 10 rating, noting: ‘‘After a week in which the service to the big man has been the topic of conversation, he barely had a decent cross to attack. Sent two first-half headers over.

The Northern Echo gave Wood a 5, saying: the Kiwi ‘‘couldn’t really make an impact on his debut’’.

Louise Taylor, Newcastle United beat writer for The Guardian, noted Wood ‘‘swiftly showed off his potential ... dragging two defenders out of position and permitting Joelinton to flick the fallout from Ryan Fraser’s whipped in cross against the bar.’’

But she said it proved ‘‘an all too rare cameo on an afternoon when Wood invariably seemed on a different wavelength from his new team-mates and struggled to link play.’’