Chris Wood is being considered for a long-awaited return to action on Friday when Nottingham Forest’s B team meet Newcastle.

Forest’s top scorer last season with 20 goals, Wood has not played since October due to a knee injury and he has been missed desperately. The club are above the relegation zone on goal difference alone and travel to fellow strugglers Tottenham on Sunday.

Daily Mail Sport revealed earlier this week that Forest hoped Wood would play a part in the final stages of the campaign and if he features against Newcastle, that would be a hugely encouraging sign. Morgan Gibbs-White is Forest’s top scorer in the league this season, with eight goals, and Forest have managed only 28 all campaign.

Chris Wood meets Forest boss Vitor Pereira on the training ground

Wood has been working outdoors in recent weeks and though he had yet to rejoin his team-mates in full training, boss Vitor Pereira has been encouraged by his progress.

He said: ‘I don’t want to push him up, but I think he will be able to help us in the last few games of the season. He is important for the group because he has quality. He scores goals, and he has the personality to help us.

‘I usually don’t push the players to come earlier, but today he started the warm-up with the team. I really hope we can have him for the last games because he’s an important player.’

Pereira’s side returned from Denmark on Friday following their victory over FC Midtjylland, which sealed a place in the last eight of the Europa League. Forest take on FC Porto over two legs next month.