Will Taiwo Awoniyi play for Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea – Coach drops update

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi will miss the club’s last Premier League game of the season against Chelsea due to injury, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has confirmed.

The Nigerian forward, 27, has been recovering after a serious injury he suffered during Forest’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City. Awoniyi collided with the goalpost and needed surgery for a ruptured intestine. He was placed in an induced coma but is now awake and steadily getting better.

Speaking to the Nottingham Post, Nuno said: “He’s much better. He’s walking and can eat normally again. But I don’t know if he’ll be at the stadium — that depends on the doctors.”

Although Awoniyi won’t be on the pitch, his presence will still be felt. Forest players showed their support for him last week against West Ham, wearing T-shirts with his name during the warm-up. Morgan Gibbs-White also held up Awoniyi’s shirt after scoring.

“We are going to play for T again,” said Nuno. “It was a big incident and it’s still on our minds. We want to see him fully healthy and back with the team.”

Forest, currently sitting seventh in the Premier League, need a win against Chelsea at the City Ground to qualify for the UEFA Champions League — their first appearance in European competition in over 20 years.

Awoniyi may not be on the pitch, but he remains a strong source of inspiration for the team, the fans, and the entire city.