'On the back foot' - Journalist slams 5/10 Newcastle man over dismal Mainz display

Newcastle United striker Chris Wood was criticised on Monday for his display in the 1-0 defeat to Mainz in Austria. 

The Toon reporter Dominic Scurr was reporting on the game and questioned the New Zealand striker for a poor technical display against the Bundesliga side.

Eddie Howe made ten changes on the hour mark which saw Wood replaced by Callum Wilson, but this was not enough to inspire a comeback from the Magpies.

It was clearly an afternoon to forget for Wood who, according to Jordan Cronin, “sent a shot into the Australian Alps” which may just about sum up what was another fruitless afternoon for the Kiwi.

And he did not fare any better in Scurr’s post-game player ratings where the journalist Handed Wood a 5/10 rating and labelled his display:

“Skied an effort over the bar after half an hour. Worked hard and applied pressure but just seemed a bit on the back foot in and around the penalty area as United looked to threaten.”

TIF Thoughts on Scurr’s comments…

It is perhaps unfair to judge a player for a display in pre-season, however, we think the signing of Wood is still yet to convince anyone of potentially becoming £27m well spent by Newcastle.

Having joined back in January from Burnley, the 30-year-old only went on to score two goals in his 17 Premier League appearances for the Tyneside club.

With reports suggesting Dan Ashworth is working to bring in another striker this summer, it does not fare well for a player who is yet to live up to his big-money price tag.

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