Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo has stated that Taiwo Awoniyi is still working to attain optimal fitness as the season opener against Bournemouth at the City Ground approaches.
Awoniyi made his first appearance of the preseason as a substitute, replacing Anthony Elanga in the 77th minute of the Tricky Trees' 0-0 draw with Spanish side Villarreal at the City Ground on Friday.
The 26-year-old has struggled with injuries since joining the Premier League club from Union Berlin two seasons ago.
Awoniyi missed 17 matches due to a groin issue in his first season at the club, and last season, he was sidelined for 18 games due to groin surgery and a subsequent thigh problem.
In his debut season, Awoniyi scored 10 goals in the league. During the 2023/24 season, he added six goals in 20 appearances, starting 12 matches and averaging only 53 minutes per game.
Nuno: Focus on Taiwo Awoniyi's fitness ahead of season opener
With the new Premier League season just a few weeks away, Forest are closely monitoring the Nigeria international's progress.
“We are taking care of him. He needs time. He started working with us for one week. He needs time,” Nuno said following the game against Villarreal, as relayed by the Nottingham Post.
“We know his quality, but his fitness level must increase. It is normal that we still see players struggling, in terms of fitness, but we still have two weeks to get them really well to face Bournemouth. This is what it is all about – preparation for the first game of the league.”
It remains to be seen whether Taiwo Awoniyi will be fully fit for the game against the Cherries and subsequent fixtures as the Premier League resumes on August 17.
