There’s been an unwelcome sight for All Whites fans, with captain Chris Wood limping off with a fresh knee injury early in Nottingham Forest's Europa League quarterfinal with Porto this morning.
Wood, who has missed much of the season with a knee injury and had surgery before Christmas, took a heavy blow from Jan Bednarek.
Bednarek was sent off, and while Wood tried to continue, he was substituted shortly afterwards.
'He wasn't a class player': How Chris Wood went from eager kid to football legend – Watch on TVNZ+
Forest won the game 1-0 and would advance to the semi-finals to face fellow English side Aston Villa.
Following this morning's match, Forest head coach Vítor Pereira said he thought Wood would recover.
Wood was expected to lead the line for New Zealand at the upcoming World Cup, with the All Whites due to play Iran, Egypt and Belgium.
He missed the All Whites' last two internationals against Finland and Chile in late March.
Before the Porto match, Wood said his knee injury would likely take "years of managing, throughout my whole career and my life”.
“When I’m playing with the kids, playing golf or doing whatever I do after football, it’s going to be there.
“It’s always going to be in the back of my mind that I have to keep myself in top shape, ready to go.”
Watch the All Whites' FIFA World Cup and warmup matches live and free on TVNZ+
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