NEWCASTLE’S newest addition Chris Wood has spoken of moving to the club at the ‘right time’  in his career and feels there has been no bad blood left in moving to a direct relegation rival.

Wood, 30, has completed his move to Tyneside after Newcastle activated a £25 million release clause in his contract at Burnley making him the most expensive player over 30 in British history. He has signed a two-and-a-half year contract.

Newcastle, who currently sit 19th in the Premier League table, sit level on points with the Clarets.

Reports suggest that the move has infuriated manager Sean Dyche and the Burnley staff as they look to stave away from the relegation zone.

While Newcastle have the same task at hand, Wood feels he can go on to achieve great things and help the team away from the bottom end of the table.

Wood told the media: “You’ve got to look at it and you’ve got to feel what your gut says. It was just one of those feelings that you had.

“I think this is the right club for the time in my career. I’ve been at Burnley for 4.5 years, was very comfortable, very happy and very settled there but when I look at myself, I think nothing great happens in your comfort zone.

“I’m a firm believer in you have to sit yourself out the way and out of your comfort zone to achieve greatness or to achieve some sort of great footballing talent.

“I’m under no illusion it’s going to be a big challenge for me but it can be potentially great for me and great for the club so that’s how I knew it was the right decision and the right time for me to come this way.”

His goal record at Turf Moor speaks for itself with 64 goals in 157 senior appearances since making the switch from Leeds United in 2017.

Asked whether there was any bad bloody from Burnley’s end over his move to St James’ Park, Wood replied: “For me, there was no bad blood at all.

“I really enjoyed my four-and-a-half years there. Playing Europa League, avoiding relegation, the crowd were always behind me. I have nothing but positive memories.”

The process of enacting the release clause in Wood’s contract to him putting pen-to-paper on a two-and-a-half year contract has been a swift one with the striker admitting he got the call on Tuesday.

Newcastle’s urgency to sign a striker before the end of the transfer window was heightened by the news that top scorer Callum Wilson is set to spend eight weeks on the sidelines due to injury.

Wood currently stands as the only fit striker in the Newcastle squad as he took part in his first training session this morning.

While Wood stands a very good chance of featuring in his first game at the weekend, he admitted that a burning desire to get the move across the line, and the willingness to fund the move, was a big part of his decision making.

“I just felt it was time to challenge myself in a different element” added Wood.

“An opportunity like this, wanting to move to a new club or anything like that, doesn’t come along often so to turn it down when the club and the manager pushed so hard to get me, I felt wanted.

“I felt like my presence here was needed and they were after me so there is nothing more better than being loved as a striker. I think it was just the right time for a new challenge in my life.”