Nottingham Forest and Nigeria international striker Taiwo Awoniyi has undergone emergency surgery after sustaining an abdominal injury during Sunday’s Premier League encounter against Leicester City.
The 27-year-old collided with the goalpost in the 88th minute while attempting to connect with a cross from Anthony Elanga in the 2-2 draw at the City Ground. Despite being visibly in pain, Awoniyi played the final minutes of the match after receiving brief medical attention on the pitch.
Nottingham Forest confirmed on Monday that the player had surgery and is currently recovering. The club also extended its best wishes for his recovery, noting that further updates will be provided in due course.
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The incident has sparked internal discussions within the club, with reports suggesting that owner Evangelos Marinakis confronted head coach Nuno Espírito Santo and the medical team regarding the decision to keep Awoniyi on the pitch after the injury. Espírito Santo later explained that a miscommunication had occurred between coaching and medical staff.
Awoniyi, who joined Forest from Union Berlin in 2022, has been an influential figure at the club, registering 19 goals in 83 appearances. His absence comes at a crucial point in the season as Forest continues its push for a European place, sitting just one point behind fifth-placed Chelsea.
Forest face West Ham United and Chelsea in their remaining fixtures, and it remains unclear whether Awoniyi will feature again this season.
