Nottingham Forest fans have a major reason for optimism as striker Chris Wood is set to return to the squad after a grueling six-month injury layoff. The 34-year-old has traveled to Porto and is available for selection in Thursday's crucial Europa League quarter-final first leg.

Wood has been sidelined since October with a knee injury that required surgery in December, making this a long-awaited comeback. His return couldn't come at a more critical time for a Forest side navigating a congested and challenging end to the season.

The New Zealand international's importance to the team is starkly illustrated by the numbers. Last season, his career-best haul of 20 Premier League goals was instrumental in Forest's impressive seventh-place finish, accounting for over a third of the team's total league goals. His absence this campaign has been felt, with the team's scoring rate dipping significantly.

Manager Vitor Pereira confirmed the positive news, stating, "He has started to train with the team. He is available for the game." Pereira emphasized Wood's value, adding, "He is an experienced player, he scores goals and it's important to be ready for the team in this moment because we face a lot of challenges."

To regain match fitness, Wood has recently featured for Forest's Under-21 side, even finding the net in a 3-0 victory last month. His return bolsters Forest's attack as they pursue history on two fronts: a first European semi-final in over four decades and securing their Premier League status for another year.

Currently sitting just three points above the relegation zone with seven games remaining, Forest's survival push receives a timely boost with the reintroduction of a proven goalscorer. The stats don't lie—Forest's win percentage and points-per-game average are substantially higher with Wood in the starting lineup. His presence on the pitch in Porto could be a defining moment in their season.