Hard Work Starts Now For Wood

Like his team-mates, the New Zealand international is eager to taste Premier League football in a City shirt, but understands full well that success during the season is underpinned by hard work before it. 

“We’ve had a few weeks off and I’ve managed to get a holiday in which has been nice,” Wood revealed to LCFC.com. 

“But now we’re coming into the final stages of that time off and we’re starting to think about the season and step up our gym sessions to keep things ticking over. 

“Like all the lads, I want to make sure I’m majorly on top of things in time for the first day back so I can pass that fitness test. 

“When the season starts, we just have to go about our business and make sure our pre-season preparations are right and that we play the way we want to play. 

“If you look at Hull City last season, they did so well and stayed up comfortably in the end. I’ve every belief in the squad we have here that we can do that as well. Hull proved last year that it can be done, and I think we can do that too.” 

Many of Wood’s team-mates have stated their belief that last term’s incredible team spirit and will to win was born in those first days back in pre-season, something that helped them bounce back from the agony of play-off defeat to clinch the league title. 

For Wood, those elements will be of equal importance this time around, as Nigel Pearson and his team plot their survival strategy in arguably the toughest league in world football. 

Wood added: “I think the mood throughout last season and the team spirit was a huge factor for the success and obviously we’ve got some new players coming in who we can’t wait to welcome and make them a proper part of the team. 

“We feel that it’s our team spirit that helped us win the title last season. Now we want to continue working for each other and as one unit. 

“For the boys that are coming up and who haven’t had that taste of Premier League football yet, they’ll have that hunger and it’ll be an experience that they will cherish. 

“They’ll thrive and do well, and for the boys that have been there, they know what to expect and how hard you have to work. 

“Myself, I only played in a couple of Premier League games for West Brom, but I loved every minute and I want to get back there and play week in, week out. I’m sure we’ll do very well and I know all the lads in the team are just as keen to do the business as me. 

“It’s going to be good to test myself against top quality opposition next season, so I’ve got to work as hard as I to make sure I’m in contention for a starting place on that opening day of the season against Everton.”