6 players who came back to haunt former clubs after Wood hat-trick at Newcastle
Chris Wood never scored a hat-trick at St James' Park during his time as a Newcastle United player, but he did just that as a visiting player as Nottingham Forest claimed all three points on Boxing Day.
The treble was Wood's first in the Premier League since the end of the 2020-21 season, when he scored three of Burnley's four goals in a win at Wolves. The New Zealand international brought his tally for the season up to seven goals - more than he managed in 39 outings as a Newcastle player.
Wood is far from the first Premier League player to come back and haunt a former club. And that's without even mentioning the time when Lomana LuaLua - on loan from Newcastle - scored a crucial equaliser for Portsmouth against the Magpies back in 2004.
Here, Mirror Football looks at six other examples. We've got a former loan star who didn't make a permanent switch, a striker who opted aainst a muted celebration, and one man who did it for two clubs
Emmanuel Adebayor vs Arsenal
Sometimes, when a player scores against their former club, they will be tempted to dial back on their celebration out of respect. Not always, though.
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Emmanuel Adebayor scored more than 60 goals for Arsenal during three-and-a-half years in North London but didn't leave on the best of terms. WHen he took on the Gunners with Manchester City and scored in his first appearance aainst his former club, helping City win 4-2, he celebrated by running the length of the field to celebrate in front of fans of his former club.
“I shouldn’t have done what I did,” he later said. “Emotions took over, the frustrations were out and I was awfully sorry for what I have done.
“As a player you focus on what you are doing. I am very sorry. I am only a human being, it was a mistake.”
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Emmanuel Adebayor later apologised for his celebration (Getty Images)Carlos Tevez vs West Ham
Carlos Tevez played a big part in West Ham's Premier League survival in 2007, but his crucial winner at Old Trafford in May of that year was his last for the club. He moved to Manchester United that same summer, and put his old employers to the sword 12 months after saving Alan Curbishley's side.
West Ham won the next meeting, in December 2007, but Sir Alex Ferguson's side delivered a comprehensive 4-1 home win late in the season. Tevez was on target in that game, blasting home from 25 yards to give Rob Green no chance.
The victory kept United's title fate in their own hands, and they would beat Wigan in their final game of the season to end up as champions. It wasn't the end of the world for West Ham, though, as they ended the campaign in 10th place.
Carlos Tevez vs Manchester United
Tevez's United spell only lasted two years, and he left Old Trafford on less friendly terms than those with which he left Upton Park. He didn't waste time showing United what they were missing after moving to Manchester City, though a fairytale return was spoiled by his old employers.
On his first return to Old Trafford, Tevez set up goals for both Gareth Barry and Craig Bellamy. Both were equalisers, with Bellamy later levelling things up for a third time in the final minute, only for Michael Owen to score a late, late United winner.
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Tevez didn't manage to score in seven Manchester derbies as a City player, but was part of the team for one vital win. He was part of Roberto Mancini's starting XI for a 1-0 victory in the 2011-12 run-in, with the three points paving the way for City to pip United to the league title.
Carlos Tevez made a high-profile move across Manchester in 2009 (AFP/Getty Images)Theo Walcott vs Arsenal
Theo Walcott had already scored once against former club Arsenal for Southampton before the teams met in 2023. However, his effort in a 1-1 draw misway through the 2020-21 season was far less meaningful than the one two-and-a-half years later.
Mikel Arteta's Gunners knew there was little room for error in the title race when the relegation-threatened Saints travelled to North London in April. They were in for a shock early on, though, with Carlos Alcaraz scoring inside the first minute and Walcott doubling his team's lead a quarter of an hour in.
Arsenal clawed their way back to a 3-3 draw, but they really needed all three points. Sure enough, they fell just short in their title pursuit, while Walcott later explained his lack of celebration.
Theo Walcott dented Arsenal's title challenge in 2023 (Getty Images)"My son’s going to be really disappointed that I didn’t celebrate but I just couldn’t," the former England international said. "It was a very indifferent day for me today, I felt like I couldn’t win. Hopefully, now Arsenal can go on and win the league and beat Man City on Wednesday."
Cole Palmer vs Manchester City
When Cole Palmer left Manchester City over the summer, his aim was to play regular first team football. That has been forthcoming at new club Chelsea, with penalty duties helping him match his goal total at City in less than 20 appearances for the Blues.
One of his six goals this season came against his former employers. It wasn't just any goal, either, with Palmer keeping his cool from the penalty spot to have the final say in a pulsating 4-4 draw.
"For those two minutes and 45 seconds [before the penalty] it was like he was in an igloo - he stayed away from it all, he was cool, calm and collected, composed himself and when he took that penalty you could see how much conviction he took it with," former Chelsea and City striker Daniel Sturridge said on Sky Sports at the time. “He’s playing with a supreme confidence, knowing he’s at this level and he’s showing it week in, week out."
Nicolas Anelka vs Liverpool
Nicolas Anelka scoring a penalty against Liverpool (PA Archive/PA Images)While Palmer was there to haunt City in 2023, 20 years ago it was another former City and Chelsea player hitting the headlines. Nicolas Anelka wouldn't end up moving to Stamford Bridge for a few more years, but he played a big part in the club's modern history.
Anelka had spent time on loan at Liverpool, but the Reds opted against a permanent swoop. That left the door open for City, and it was almost inevitable that he would help down the Merseyside club.
Milan Baros gave Liverpool the lead in a May 2003 meeting with City as the hosts looked to stay in the driving seat for Champions League qualification. Two Anelka goals in the final 20 minutes turned the game on its head, though.
That result, along with a final day defeat, meant Liverpool lost out to Chelsea in the battle for Champions League qualification. Not long after that, Roman Abramovich rocked up in West London and the rest was history.
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