npower Championship: Leicester City v Middlesbrough

(Sporting Alert) – Chris Wood has been banging in the goals for Leicester City since his move to the Championship side, but the striker is expecting a tough contest against promotion rivals Middlesbrough on Friday.

Wood has netted six goals in three games since moving from English Premier League side West Brom, including a hattrick in the 4-0 victory over Bristol City last Saturday, but the New Zealand front man doesn’t expect any favours from the visitors.

Middlesbrough heads into the game after losing its last match and Wood believes they will be looking to get back on winning ways on Friday night.

“It’s going to be a tough game with them losing on Saturday. They will be looking to come back fighting and be twice as strong,” said Wood.

“But everyone is upbeat. We have to make sure we prepare right during the week and that we’re ready for that game.”

The striker is also delighted with the way he has started his career with Leicester City and is hoping to keep his rich form.

“It’s been a positive start for me, but it’s only a start,” he commented.

“We’ve got a long way to go in the season, hopefully a lot more goals to come and hopefully a lot more wins to come too.”

A win for the Foxes will see them moving into the automatic promotion places behind Championship leaders Cardiff, but manager Nigel Pearson, although happy with his new forward’s start, wants it to be a team thing and not just about Wood.

“Chris is doing what we hoped he would do, things are falling for him and he’s taking his opportunities,” Pearson said.

“But the most important thing is that we win games as a team and he’s playing his part in that.

“We needed something different up top and he gives us that. It was great for him to get a hat-trick.”