Wood, who has come through the Sky Blues’ academy, helped the club win the Y-League earlier this year and then took out the Golden Boot award after banging out 11 goals in just 11 games in the NSW NPL.
The prodigious talent has been involved with Gary van Egmond’s Young Socceroos squad and now the 18-year-old is eyeing a chance in Asia and then the A-League.
“It’s been a good season for me personally, I’ve scored a few goals and helping the team do their bit to go a bit higher in the ranks,” Wood told The World Game.
“I’ve been part of the Sydney FC academy since day one under Kelly Cross and ‘Bimbi’ (Corica), I’ve been learning a lot. It was a good season with the National Youth League as well.
“[On winning the Golden Boot] I scored a few goals, but I couldn’t have done it without the boys.”
Wood hails from the northern beaches and played for Collaroy Cromer Strikers and Manly United before linking with Sydney FC’s academy at the age of 13.
The forward has just finished his HSC and started training with Steve Corica’s first-team a month ago.
“It’s been alright, I finished my HSC last Tuesday, so it wasn’t too bad with all the support you have from the club,” he said.
“I got through it and it’s all over now. I’m learning a lot of training with the first-team so far, I’ve only been with the team for three or four weeks. But it’s going well and it’s exciting to go away and hopefully do well overseas, and see what happens.
“Bimbi said just keep doing what I’m doing and look up to the other boys like Kosta and Trent and all the other boys who play upfront. To do everything I can to hopefully push them for their spots.”
Wood has been named in Sydney FC’s 23-man squad that is off to Qatar to play in the Asian Champions League. The Sky Blues will face Yokohama F. Marinos, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Shanghai SIPG in the Middle East.
“It would be a dream of mine to make my debut,” he admitted.
“It’s been a goal of mine for many years, and to do it for Sydney FC would be unreal.”
Wood missed out on selection for the Joeys squad that went to last year’s Under Under-17 FIFA World Cup in Brazil because of injury. But the marksman has returned to full fitness and recently joined up with the Young Socceroos’ camp on Australian soil this year.
His long-term ambition is to play in the A-League and establish himself at home before one day plying his trade overseas.
“I had a stress fracture in my back two years ago and I was out for 12 months,” Wood said.
“And then I had some little niggles along the way, a broken foot and other stuff, but I’m all strong and fit now. I just have to keep healthy and keep working hard. I don’t take it for granted now.
“We were in camp with the Young Socceroos a few weeks ago. It’s hard with Coronavirus to know when the competitions are, but if I keep working hard I get a spot in the team.
“I’d love to play for Sydney FC and hopefully go overseas, and put on the national team jersey. Those are big goals of mine for the future.”
