Taiwo Awoniyi Ends Two-Month Break, Returns To Football

Today, January 30, marks the anticipated return of Nigerian international Taiwo Awoniyi to football, marking his first appearance in 2024.

This implies that Taiwo Awoniyi is eligible for selection as Nottingham Forest faces Arsenal in the Premier League matchday 22 fixture tonight.

Scheduled to commence at 8:30 p.m. at City Ground, the Premier League match is crucial for both teams, with Nottingham Forest, in particular, striving to avoid relegation.

Note that Forest has recorded 11 defeats, five draws, and just five wins so far this season. This abysmal performance has pushed them down to the 16th spot with 20 points in 21 games, four points away from the relegation zone.

This means that a defeat to Arsenal could cost Forest to be at least a point away from the relegation zone, especially if the teams beneath them record wins in the Premier League matchday 22.

Hence, the return of Taiwo Awoniyi at this point of the season will be a great boost for coach Nuno Espirito Santo who needs all hands on deck for the remaining games in the season.

Other players like Felipe and Anthony Elanga are also expected to be ready for the game after battling fitness issues.

“The players that were out have joined the group, even though they are not 100 percent, we have decided to have them around, in the cases of Taiwo and Anthony and Felipe,” Taiwo Awoniyi said.

“We decided as a group to bring them to the squad, even though they are not really yet. We will have to decide, they are going to be with us and then we will decide.

“Awoniyi is in the process of recovering and getting the fitness levels right. We decided to bring them to the group. Instead of waiting for them to be 100 percent ready, we decided to bring them in and after that, we will decide.”

Note that Taiwo Awoniyi suffered a groin injury when representing the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a friendly game against Saudi Arabia in October.

Due to the injury, he had to withdraw from the 2023 AFCON and underwent surgery to treat the issue. Before he sustained the injury, the forward had scored four goals and provided two assists in 10 Premier League games.