Shay Given recalls traumatic injury after hearing of Taiwo Awoniyi’s coma

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given has shared his personal experience of a life-threatening abdominal injury after hearing news of Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi being placed in an induced coma.

Awoniyi reportedly suffered severe internal injuries following a collision with the goalpost during a recent match.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism after it emerged he briefly continued playing, despite showing signs of distress and Forest having no substitutions left.

Given, now a television pundit, said the situation triggered flashbacks to a similar ordeal he faced nearly 20 years ago while playing for Newcastle United.

A clash with West Ham’s Marlon Harewood left Given with a torn bowel — an injury his doctor compared to trauma seen in car crash victims.

“When I heard how Awoniyi’s condition deteriorated, I started having flashbacks,” Given told The Mirror.

“It sounds like a very similar injury to the one I suffered. I just want to reach out because there is nothing more painful than what he’s going through.”

The former Manchester City goalkeeper recounted the severity of his injury: “The specialist who operated on me said the only time he had seen something like it was in high-speed car crashes — when the ribs hit the steering wheel with full force.”

While Given noted he does not know the full details of Awoniyi’s condition, he emphasized the apparent similarities.

“I just hope he gets the same outcome I did. It took me three or four months to recover, though I still have a big scar on my stomach. It could have been much worse — and unlike Taiwo, I couldn’t carry on playing.”

Given also defended Forest’s medical staff, who have faced backlash for not removing Awoniyi from play immediately. “If a player says he’s okay, you trust him,” Given said. “There’s no way the doctors could have known how serious it was.”

The injury occurred during a sequence in which Forest’s Anthony Elanga was ruled offside — adding further scrutiny to the decision to allow play to continue. As Awoniyi recovers, messages of support have poured in from across the football world, including from those who know firsthand the dangers of playing through pain.