Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi remains under medical observation following emergency surgery on a serious abdominal injury that led to him being placed in an induced coma.

Manager Nuno Espírito Santo has confirmed the 27-year-old Nigerian forward is now recovering and that the club remains “concerned but positive” about his condition.

What Happened?

Awoniyi sustained the injury during the closing stages of Forest’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Leicester City on Sunday. He collided heavily with the post while attempting to reach a cross from teammate Anthony Elanga.

Though Elanga was offside in the build-up, the flag was not raised immediately due to the Premier League’s delayed offside flag protocol, introduced in 2020. The decision has sparked renewed criticism, with teammate Ola Aina remarking that “the injury would never have happened” had the flag been raised earlier.

Emergency Surgery and Recovery

The striker was hospitalized shortly after the match, undergoing a two-phase emergency surgery to address internal injuries:

• First surgery: Monday

• Second surgery: Wednesday

• Induced coma ended: Wednesday evening

Nuno stated:

“He went to surgery, surgery went well. Thank God. He is under observation now, but he is recovering.”

Awoniyi is expected to remain under medical observation for at least five days.

Support From Club and Family

Forest boss Nuno, speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to West Ham, expressed how difficult the past few days have been for the entire squad:

“It’s been very difficult… the concern of the injury, the situation he went through. But the family is with him, and that’s the most important thing.”

Nuno also mentioned that the squad has been closely following Awoniyi’s condition via group chats, highlighting the striker’s popularity within the team:

“He’s a wonderful boy… and this season has been so hard on him.”

Awoniyi’s Impact at Forest

Since joining Nottingham Forest from Union Berlin in 2022, Taiwo Awoniyi has become a vital part of the squad:

• ⚽ 19 goals in 85 appearances

• 🇳🇬 10 international caps for Nigeria

His absence will be a blow as Forest close out their season, but the focus remains on his recovery.