Leeds United: Wood keen to earn place in striking folklore

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The big-money summer signing – Leeds’ most expensive acquisition since Nick Barmby joined for £2.75m in August 2002 – paid back the first installment of his hefty fee when he netted for United in the 2-2 draw with Bristol City on Wednesday night.

The 23-year-old is now seeking to back it up with another goalscoring input in tomorrow’s lunch-time derby with Sheffield Wednesday and build on the positive partnership between himself and Mirco Antenucci, which yielded a goal apiece for each at Ashton Gate.

Wood said: “I’m at a club where number nines are bred into the history and it goes back a long, long while.

“I want to be like them, like a Mark Viduka or someone like that. I want to follow in their footsteps.

“I just wanted to get on the mark and on the way. I know I can work hard for the team and do my best, but ultimately I want to score goals as well. Me and Mirco worked well and it was nice and we have started to form a little bit of a bond and partnership. It’s still going to take time.

“When you play one up front, it’s difficult to create chances or get chances yourself.

“Sometimes you are laying it off for other players and you might not get any chances. But it’s nice working with Mirco and hopefully we can continue that.

“Of course, it felt like a defeat to concede late on at Bristol, especially after being 2-0 up after two great counter-attack goals.

“It’s a disappointing one that we are going to have to pick ourselves up from and push on for a big massive derby on Saturday.”

Despite seeing his side fritter away two valuable points at the death, head coach Uwe Rosler was at least consoled in the knowledge that his decision to pair Wood and Antenucci together in front was fully vindicated – and the German was enthused by the duo’s showing and combination work.

He added: “Both strikers played (well) with each other and it was nice to see.

“When we have got two strikers like ourselves who worked with each other offensively and defensively, share the workload and pass the ball with each other, I was very happy with that.”