Eyebrows were raised when Newcastle United paid Burnley £25m for Chris Wood in January. The consensus was that, in triggering the New Zealand striker’s release clause, Eddie Howe had overpaid – but it seemed money very well spent here.
Granted, Wood has hardly been prolific, yet his second-half penalty lifted Eddie Howe’s side to the heady heights of 14th, virtually extinguishing Tyneside’s relegation fears.