Awoniyi has ‘urgent’ surgery after abdominal injury

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has had “urgent” surgery on a serious abdominal injury sustained in last Sunday’s Premier League match with Leicester.

The Nigeria international, 27, collided with the post in the 88th minute of the 2-2 draw at the City Ground as he attempted to get on the end of a cross from Anthony Elanga.

He received treatment on the pitch and was able to continue but was visibly struggling when the match restarted.

“The club can confirm Taiwo Awoniyi has undergone urgent surgery following an abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match against Leicester City,” said a Forest statement.

Awoniyi, who joined Forest from Union Berlin in June 2022, had only been on the pitch for five minutes having come on as a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangare.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis indicated in an Instagram post that his decision to march on to the pitch at the full-time whistle had been in part due to his view on how the injury suffered by Awoniyi had been handled.

“Everybody – coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself – we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgement on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game,” Marinakis said.

“This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club.”