Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi faces an uncertain future at the City Ground as manager Nuno Espirito Santo is reportedly seeking reinforcements to back up Chris Wood.
The Nigeria forward, who joined Forest in the summer of 2022, has struggled to regain prominence following persistent fitness challenges and Chris Wood’s impressive performances.
Signed initially on loan from Newcastle United last season, the New Zealand international capitalized on Awoniyi’s injury struggles to cement himself as the club’s first-choice striker, raising questions about the latter’s long-term place in the team.
According to Football Insider, Brighton’s teenage sensation Evan Ferguson is among the club’s targets, a move that could further cast doubt on Awoniyi’s future.
Espirito Santo on the injury-prone Awoniyi
Despite the speculation, Nuno Espirito Santo has voiced his confidence in Awoniyi’s potential. However, he also acknowledged the impact of the striker’s injuries and international commitments on his ability to rediscover his form.
“It’s his fitness, his confidence, and he is looking for his goal,” Espirito Santo said. “Everything changes in the mindset of a striker when you score; suddenly, everything comes. We are waiting for this click. We trust him.
“What we have been trying with Taiwo is to increase his game time. Unfortunately, if I look back, going into the previous [October] international break, he played and then immediately went with his national team and played five minutes. That was a step back.” Nuno Espirito Santo said in quotes revealed by Nottingham Post.
Awoniyi’s injury record has been a significant stumbling block. He missed 30 games last season due to injuries, including groin surgery and other setbacks, which kept him sidelined for months.
His fitness issues have now become a major consideration for Forest as they explore ways to bolster their squad for the second half of the season.
