By Dayo Awoniyi
Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is in line for a remarkable return to action in the club’s final Premier League fixture against Chelsea, following a serious injury that sidelined him in recent weeks.
Awoniyi, who suffered a ruptured intestine after a heavy collision with the goalpost during a match, underwent successful surgery and has been recovering under medical supervision.
Speaking ahead of the Chelsea clash, Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo offered a positive update on the Nigerian forward’s condition.
“The information we have is that he’ll need at least five days of observation. Hopefully, all goes well, and next week he can rejoin the team and be around us again,” Espírito Santo said during his pre-match press conference.
The manager also praised Awoniyi’s resilience and character, noting the challenges the player has faced this season.
“He had surgery and, thank God, it went well. He’s now under observation. We’re still waiting for the doctors to allow visits, but his family is with him.
“We are concerned, of course, but optimistic. Believe me, he’s a wonderful boy. It’s been a very tough season for him, and we all feel deeply for him.”
With Forest battling to finish the season on a strong note, the potential return of Awoniyi could serve as a major boost for the team heading into their decisive clash at the City Ground.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
