By Craig Norenbergs
Just over a week after playing a starring role for the All Whites on the road to the FIFA World Cup, Chris Wood will be making his run-on debut at Turf Moor for new Premier League club Burnley.
After New Zealand's 6-1 win over the Solomon Islands in Auckland, coach Anthony Hudson told him he wasn't needed for the away leg in Honiara, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
It allowed him the extra time to prepare for Monday's game against Crystal Palace.
"I have to thank the manager of New Zealand for that. He didn't have to, and it got me back early so I could recover for the weekend's game, so it's brilliant all-round for us."
Wood's three goals in the home game helped New Zealand move through to the next stage.
"It was important we took a good lead to the Solomon Islands and it's always a tough place to go over there, and at home we should always do quite well and it was nice we put on a show in front of our own fans."
He now has to impress the fans at Burnley.
"It's not often you have to wait nearly three or four weeks for a home debut, but it's going to be great to get down there and see what it's about.
I've heard great things from a lot of the boys here and the boys who have been here in the past, so I'm looking forward to it."
He scored in his debut for Burnley off the bench against Tottenham, but this week has been picked up front in the first 11.
"It's going to drive you on and keep you on your toes to be ready. We've got five great strikers so everybody's going to be pushing for a starting place and everybody will want to be in there and I'll be the same and doing my bit."
The match kicks off on Monday at 12:30am.
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