Taiwo Awoniyi deserves Nottingham Forest first choice striker – Chris Wood

By Wale Mustapha

Nottingham Forest striker, Chris Wood has reckoned Nigerian striker, Taiwo Awoniyi to be the club’s first choice forward.

Awoniyi joined the Premier League side in 2022 from German Bundesliga club, Union Berlin and has since hit the ground running. Despite a blip in form and nasty injury, the Super Eagles forward was still able to emerged Nottingham’s top scorer last season, scoring in their last five games to retain their Premier League status.

Manager Chris Wood brought in Wood from Burnley last summer to add more bites to the Triky Trees’ attack and the New Zealand striker is still playing as second fiddle behind Awoniyi who has scored in opening three games.

When asked about his time at the City Ground, Wood who has started just one game this season said he’s had a good relationship with the Nigerian striker

“From a personal perspective, I’d love to be getting more minutes, but I’ll just keep working hard to get myself back in that team.

“T (Awoniyi) has had the shirt recently and deservedly so because he’s playing really well, so I’ll keep trying to push him hard in training and help him raise his level even higher.”

“I’d like to think he feels the same with me. There’s no bad feeling about who starts and who comes on — we all respect the manager’s decision and want to see each other do well.”

Wood is expected to have more starts for now as Awoniyi is currently inured which has not affect his place as Steve Cooper’s first choice striker.