Nottingham Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi applauds fans after the match
Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is now back in training after his groin injury, according to a report from The Athletic.
The Lowdown: Injuries mounting up
A whole host of Forest players are set for a spell on the sidelines, with Cheikhou Kouyate, Scott McKenna, Willy Boly and Omar Richards all ruled out due to a variety of different injury issues.
Awoniyi has not been named in the match-day squad for the last eight Premier League matches, having sustained a groin injury in the Tricky Trees’ 1-0 win away at Southampton at the beginning of January.
With winger Brennan Johnson also sustaining a groin issue in the recent defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, Steve Cooper is light on numbers in forward areas, and so the latest news about Awoniyi will be a welcome boost for the manager…
The Latest: Awoniyi back in training
According to a report from The Athletic, the striker has recently returned to light training, as he looks to put his injury problem behind him.
The 25-year-old is said to have stepped up his involvement at Wilford Lane over the past week, indicating it may not be too long until he is deemed ready for a return to the first team.
It is detailed that Cooper may also view the Nigerian as a potential replacement for Johnson in the starting XI, despite the fact they are very different types of players, as he can be a real outlet for Forest in attack.
The Verdict: Boost for Cooper
The Ilorin-born marksman was just starting to find his feet in the Premier League prior to his injury blow, netting the winner in the 1-0 victory at Southampton, which remains the Tricky Trees’ only win on their travels in the top flight all season.
Hailed as ‘absolutely sublime’ by the media earlier this season, the forward was also branded a ‘hero’ for his performance in the 1-0 victory against Liverpool at the City Ground, a match in which he again netted the winner, while he also displayed his playmaking ability, creating one big chance.
With Forest sitting just two points clear of the relegation zone, it is absolutely vital they have their best players available for the run-in, as we enter the final third of the Premier League season.
Awoniyi is firmly in that category, having averaged 0.51 goals per 90 so far this season, the highest amount of any player, and so it is a real boost that he could return to first-team action soon.
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