Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has undergone “urgent” surgery after sustaining a serious abdominal injury during Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Leicester City.
The 27-year-old Nigeria international collided with the goalpost in the 88th minute at the City Ground while attempting to connect with a cross from Anthony Elanga. Although he received treatment on the pitch and briefly continued, he was clearly in discomfort when play resumed.
In a statement, Forest confirmed: “The club can confirm Taiwo Awoniyi has undergone urgent surgery following an abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match against Leicester City. Everyone at Nottingham Forest sends their best wishes to Taiwo. The club will provide further updates when appropriate.”
Awoniyi had only been on the field for five minutes after coming on as a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangaré. He joined Forest from Union Berlin in June 2022.
Club owner Evangelos Marinakis later suggested in an Instagram post that his decision to step onto the pitch at full-time was partly driven by frustration over how Awoniyi’s injury had been handled.
“Everybody — coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself — we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgement on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game,” Marinakis wrote. “This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club.”
Awoniyi, who was contracted to Liverpool FC between 2015 and 2021 without making a senior appearance, has scored once in the league for Forest this season.
