---
title: "Chris Wood could be benched again v Man City"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2022/05/08/chris-wood-could-be-benched-for-newcastle-v-man-city/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2022-05-08T09:47:10Z"
modified: "2022-05-08T09:47:11Z"
---

# Chris Wood could be benched again v Man City

Chris Wood was [left on the bench](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/chris-wood/leistungsdaten/spieler/108725) by Eddie Howe in Newcastle United’s 3-0 win over Norwich City and was given a 23-minute cameo in the Magpies 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, so it’s unlikely he’ll be recalled for Sunday afternoon’s trip to face Manchester City.

The 30-year-old [joined](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/chris-wood/transfers/spieler/108725) Newcastle on a two-and-a-half-year deal from Burnley in mid-January and has gone on to make [15 Premier League appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/chris-wood/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/108725), scoring two goals. Newcastle put three goals past Norwich without Wood coming onto the pitch, so Howe may be thinking he no longer needs him.

Allan Saint-Maximin and Joelinton have shared attacking responsibility of late and the Magpies’ boss revealed in Friday’s [pre-match press conference](https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/wilson-and-trippier-to-be-assessed-ahead-of-city-trip-says-howe/) that Callum Wilson could make the matchday squad after returning to training this week, so Wood has a lot of competition for playing time.

*[Read Newcastle](https://readnewcastle.com/2022/05/04/eddie-howes-tactical-change-is-bad-news-for-chris-woods-future/)* and some pundits predicted the New Zealand international may be deemed surplus to requirements when the season comes to a close and it’s starting to look that way. A third consecutive game on the bench would confirm that.

Newcastle paid £27m to sign Wood but already don’t have a place for him in the starting eleven after some [below-par performances](https://readnewcastle.com/2022/04/19/chris-wood-underwhelmed-for-newcastle-united-v-leicester-city/), so he may not see out his contract in the North-East.

***[In other news, Jamaal Lascelles should start for Newcastle v Man City](https://readnewcastle.com/2022/05/08/jamaal-lascelles-should-start-for-newcastle-v-man-city/)***