Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, was notably absent from the matchday squad for their 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa, having sustained an injury during their previous Premier League fixture against Manchester United.

Awoniyi, who had been instrumental in Forest’s crucial 1-0 win over Manchester United at the City Ground, had started the match and was substituted in the 86th minute. Initially, his substitution seemed precautionary, but it has since been revealed that the injury was more severe than originally anticipated, ultimately ruling him out of the trip to Villa Park.

This injury comes as a significant setback for the Super Eagles forward, especially as he had recently returned to the starting lineup after a spell on the sidelines earlier in the season. The 27-year-old had appeared to regain his rhythm and confidence, and his performance against Manchester United showcased signs of the explosive forward that Forest has been missing throughout the season.

With Awoniyi unavailable, Forest’s attacking options were stretched thin, particularly given that fellow striker Chris Wood was also missing from the squad. This lack of attacking depth was evident in their encounter at Villa Park, where goals from Villa’s Rogers and Malen gave the hosts a 2-0 lead. Jota Silva later pulled one back for Forest, but despite a late push, they could not secure a point, and the match ended in a 2-1 loss.

The defeat leaves Nottingham Forest in third place on the Premier League table, but concerns about their squad depth are growing, especially with key players like Awoniyi and Wood unavailable. As the season intensifies, Forest will need to find solutions to their attacking issues if they are to maintain their position at the top end of the table.

Meanwhile, Villa’s win propelled them to within just one point of Chelsea in fourth place, keeping the race for European spots wide open as the season progresses. The victory was a critical one for Villa as they continue their pursuit of a spot in next season’s European competitions.

Adding to Forest’s growing injury woes, another Nigerian international, Ola Aina, was also ruled out after suffering a calf injury during the first half of their victory against Manchester United. Aina’s absence compounds the difficulties facing Forest as they look to navigate the remainder of the season without two key Nigerian players.

So far this season, Awoniyi has made 23 appearances for Nottingham Forest, contributing one goal. His absence, along with other injuries, leaves Forest with a difficult task as they strive to remain competitive in the Premier League’s upper echelons.