Super Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, made his much-anticipated return from a troublesome hamstring injury in Nottingham Forest’s impressive 2-1 away victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Awoniyi, who had been sidelined since early April due to recurring fitness issues, finally returned to action as a second-half substitute, coming on in the 75th minute to replace Chris Wood as Forest fought to maintain their slender lead.
The return of the Nigeria international was a welcome boost for Nottingham Forest fans and the player himself, whose season has been plagued with injuries and inconsistent opportunities on the pitch.
This crucial win has handed Nottingham Forest a significant advantage in their ongoing push for UEFA Champions League qualification, with just three matches remaining in the Premier League campaign.
Nuno EspÃrito Santo’s side currently sit third on the log with 60 points, reinforcing their hopes of finishing inside the top four by the season’s conclusion.
Forest began the encounter in dominant fashion, taking the lead in only the fifth minute thanks to a brilliant finish from Elliot Anderson, who has quietly emerged as one of the club’s standout performers this season.
Just ten minutes later, Chris Wood appeared to have doubled Forest’s advantage, only for the goal to be chalked off by VAR for a marginal offside call.
Undeterred, the New Zealand international made amends barely a minute later, clinically converting a well-timed pass in the 16th minute to hand the visitors a deserved two-goal cushion.
Tottenham, however, were not prepared to go down without a fight. They mounted an intense late offensive, with Brazilian striker Richarlison pulling one back in the 87th minute to set up a nervy ending to the match.
Despite the pressure, Nottingham Forest held firm, securing a priceless three points on the road and extending their impressive run under Portuguese manager Nuno EspÃrito Santo.
While Awoniyi’s return to first-team action is a positive development for Forest, it has been a frustrating season for the 27-year-old striker. Limited by injuries, the former Union Berlin forward has only managed two goals in 28 appearances across all competitions.
With the season rapidly drawing to a close, Awoniyi will be determined to take advantage of every opportunity he gets in the remaining games, hoping to rediscover his best form and prove his worth both to Nottingham Forest and the Super Eagles’ coaching crew ahead of the upcoming Unity Cup.
His performances could also attract interest from other European clubs during the summer transfer window, with reports suggesting several teams have been keeping tabs on his progress.
Meanwhile, fellow Super Eagles star Ola Aina continues to recover from a muscle injury and remains unavailable for selection.
As Nottingham Forest’s fairytale Premier League campaign nears its climax, all eyes will be on Taiwo Awoniyi to see whether he can step up and play a decisive role in securing a historic top-four finish for the Midlands club.
Gamble Responsibly