Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo heaped praise on Taiwo Awoniyi after the striker scored his first goal of the season in Forest's emphatic 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Monday.
Awoniyi was brought on in the 88th minute, replacing fellow striker Chris Wood, and promptly scored Forest's third goal of the evening in the 94th minute, sealing an impressive sixth consecutive victory for Nuno's side.
The result places Forest level on points with second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League table, trailing league leaders Liverpool by just six points. The 27-year-old has had a difficult start to the 2024/25 campaign.
The Nigerian forward appeared visibly emotional after finding the net, dropping to his knees in celebration and covering his face with shinpads inscribed with a Bible verse from the Book of James.
Nuno hails Awoniyi's perseverance and impact
In the aftermath of Nottingham Forest's commanding victory over Wolves, manager Nuno expressed his delight over Taiwo Awoniyi's long-awaited goal.
“We were delighted; especially his teammates were delighted for him – the way he celebrated and even in the dressing room,” Nuno said.
“We need T. He is taking a while, but we are very happy for him. He deserves everything. He is such a nice guy.”
Awoniyi had gone without a goal since scoring in Forest's 2-0 win over West Ham United on February 17, 2024. In fact, the forward had only registered six shots throughout the current season.
It’s easy to overlook that Awoniyi was once Nottingham Forest's record signing, arriving from Union Berlin following a standout 15-goal season in the Bundesliga.
He played a key role in the club's successful 2022-23 campaign, contributing 10 goals to help secure their Premier League survival under then-manager Steve Cooper.
