Taiwo Awoniyi, the Nigerian striker who plays for Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League, has spoken candidly about his three-month injury layoff earlier this year. Awoniyi, who cost Forest €22 million last summer, started the season brightly, scoring their first league goal in a 1-0 victory over West Ham. However, he managed just two more goals before the World Cup break in November.
The striker then suffered a niggling injury that kept him out of action for over three months, missing 12 games in the process. Speaking to Soccernet, Awoniyi revealed that it was a difficult time for him and his family. “During those three months when I was injured, I was lucky that my mum and dad were with me in the UK, and that was the first time that they really saw me really injured,” he said.
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“My mum was almost crying every day because I was on crutches for about a month, and my wife was also always crying. But I am someone who believes that things may go well every time. Blood was taken out of my legs every week for three months. These are things that you can’t control, but the good thing you can do for yourself is to listen to the medical staff and believe in yourself.”
Awoniyi’s injury layoff was a blow to Nottingham Forest’s hopes of staying in the Premier League. The team struggled without him, winning just two of the 12 games he missed. However, the striker is now back in action and hoping to help his team avoid relegation. He has scored two goals in his last three games, including a crucial winner against Aston Villa.
The Nigerian international is regarded as one of the most promising young talents in African football. He was signed by Liverpool in 2015 but was unable to secure a work permit to play in England. Since then, he has been loaned out to several clubs, including FSV Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen, and Mainz.
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Despite his injury setback, Awoniyi remains confident that he can fulfill his potential and become a top-class striker. “I believe that I have the quality to play at the highest level, and I will keep working hard to achieve my goals,” he said. “I am grateful to Nottingham Forest for giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League, and I will do my best to help the team stay up.”
The striker’s determination and resilience in the face of adversity have won him many admirers among Nottingham Forest fans. They will be hoping that he can continue to score goals and help the team avoid relegation in the remaining games of the season.
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