Chris Wood salutes Leeds United progress and makes Whites prediction ahead of latest Burnley reunion

CHRIS Wood is approaching his latest reunion with his former side and has been deeply impressed with Leeds United's Premier League return.
By Lee Sobot
Published 14th May 2021, 04:45 BST
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New Zealand international striker Wood spent two years with the Whites after joining the club from Leicester City for around £3m in July 2015.

Forty-four goals later, Wood left Championship side Leeds for a move to the Premier League by joining Burnley for a club record fee of around £15m in August 2017.

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The forward faced United the very next month in an EFL Cup tie at Turf Moor in which Thomas Christiansen's Whites recorded a 5-3 victory on penalties but Wood's second battle against his former side came over three years later with Leeds as a Premier League side.

IMPRESSED: Former Whites striker Chris Wood has hailed Leeds United's progress ahead of his third clash against his former side with Burnley. Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.IMPRESSED: Former Whites striker Chris Wood has hailed Leeds United's progress ahead of his third clash against his former side with Burnley. Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.
IMPRESSED: Former Whites striker Chris Wood has hailed Leeds United's progress ahead of his third clash against his former side with Burnley. Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.

Wood played the full 90 minutes of December's clash at Elland Road in which a fifth-minute Patrick Bamford penalty gave Marcelo Bielsa's Whites a 1-0 victory that sent them 12th after 12 games played.

Five months later, Leeds are now heading for the reverse fixture against the Clarets sat in tenth place and Wood has saluted his former side's progress and expects even more steps forward next term.

"I think they’ve done absolutely fantastic,” said Wood, who has scored 46 Premier League goals for the Clarets since leaving Leeds.

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“They’ve had their great games and their not-so-good games, like everybody else.

"Overall I think they can say they’ve had a positive season.

“To finish in the top half of the Premier League can’t be sniffed at on your first go. I’m sure they’ll be looking to build next season, go again and see where it takes them.”

Burnley sit 15th in the table ahead of Saturday's clash against the Whites and are already mathematically safe following Monday's 2-0 triumph at Fulham who were subsequently consigned to the drop.

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Wood has netted 12 goals this season, three less than Whites no 9 Patrick Bamford.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/not-surprising-robin-koch-sounds-ominous-leeds-united-warning-and-makes-burnley-vow-3235411

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins

Related topics:Chris WoodPremier League