Leeds United's Chris Wood has arguably been their star performer this season and he has been an influential member of the first-team in the club's rise into the play-offs as they aim to gain promotion to the Premier League after a thirteen year absence.

The 25-year-old has spent the majority of his career in England but it did begin in his native New Zealand with WaiBOP United and Hamilton Wanderers, both based in the same town.

Wood made the move to this country in 2009 when he joined the youth set-up at West Bromwich Albion.

After spending four years there, which included several loan spells away from the Hawthorns, the striker signed for Leicester City.

Having enjoyed helping guide the Foxes to the top flight, he struggled for game time and subsequently arrived at Ipswich Town on loan in February 2015.

Chris Wood would then put pen-to-paper on a four-year contract at Leeds United for an undisclosed fee and he is proving his worth this campaign with 20+ goals already.

Despite all this, here are two things you probably didn't know about the New Zealand international...

He played in New Zealand's first World Cup point

New Zealand isn't one of the most prestigious national teams to play for compared to the likes of Italy, France, Spain and Brazil, but they did cause a shock when the All Whites qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa - it would be their second ever appearance at the tournament.

At the age of 18, Chris Wood travelled with the squad but was not expecting to get any game time.

He came on as a substitute in a 1-1 draw against Slovakia, where West Ham's Winston Reid scored an injury time equaliser.

New Zealand would actually go the whole group stage unbeaten, drawing all three games but they were knocked out.

Wood appeared in all three matches off the bench.

His first professional goal was a stunner

 

Having impressed in the youth academy at West Bromwich Albion, Wood was eager to be given the chance in the first team and got just that towards the end of the 2008/09 campaign.

His first goal though would come later that year in a Championship game against Doncaster Rovers.

With three defenders surrounding the youngster, he smashed home from 25 yards out to make it 3-1 to the Baggies.

Chris Wood's opportunities would be limited that season but did get his second in the FA Cup in January 2010.

You can watch the goal for yourself in the video above.