Nottingham Forest star Taiwo Awoniyi placed into induced coma and receiving intensive care

Nottingham Forest footballer Taiwo Awoniyi has been placed into a medically induced coma and is receiving intensive care after undergoing emergency surgery on an abdominal injury.

Awoniyi collided with a goalpost in the closing stages of Forest’s 2-2 draw with Leicester on Sunday afternoon and the striker initially continued playing after receiving treatment from medical staff.

But it has since emerged that Awoniyi was rushed from the City Ground to hospital, where the 27-year-old Nigeria international underwent ‘urgent’ surgery on Monday night due to the extent of the injury.

According to Mail Sport, the early signs are positive and the operation appears to have been a success. The second phase of the procedure is set to be carried out on Wednesday

While such an injury can be fatal in the most severe cases, Forest have confirmed in a lengthy statement on their official website that Awoniyi is ‘recovering well’.

‘The seriousness of his injury is a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game, and why a player’s health and wellbeing must always come first,’ the statement read.

‘At Nottingham Forest, this principle is not just policy for us; it is the deeply held belief and conviction of our owner. To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn’t just a football club – it’s family – and he instils that message in all of us.’

Awoniyi had been introduced for Ibrahim Sangare in the 83rd minute of the Premier League contest and attempted to play on after the heavy collision with the upright, with Nuno Espirito Santo having used up all of his available substitutes.

But Awoniyi was clearly in some discomfort and the hosts were effectively forced to search for a winner without the immobile attacker, who has scored one goal in the top flight this season.

Forest’s pursuit of a third goal was ultimately in vain, though, and the club’s owner, Marinakis, stormed the pitch to take out his frustrations on a bemused-looking Espirito Santo after the final whistle.

Asked what had left Marinakis so irate, Espirito Santo told Sky Sports: ‘There was a confusion over the situation of [Taiwo Awoniyi].

‘There was frustration to play ten minutes with a player that had so much confidence and being positive that he’s going to score.

‘We made the sub, then played with one man less. That causes frustration, it’s obvious. When there’s a player down, you get information about them. We got information he was okay to keep going so we made a sub.

‘Unfortunately, we didn’t have another stoppage to change him, and he was not able to continue to help the team. We’re all frustrated. We felt the Leicester goal was not in the flow of the game, but we tried to then go for the winner.’

‘The Forest head coach went on to defend Marinakis, adding: ‘Football is emotions. It’s difficult to control, especially when we had so much expectation today.’

Despite what looked like a heated clash between Marinakis and Espirito Santo, Forest deny that there was any ‘confrontation’ between the two men.

‘His [Marinakis’ deep frustration at seeing our player lying on the ground in severe pain – something no one with genuine care could ignore – triggered him to go onto the pitch,’ the Forest statement said.

‘It was instinctive, human, and a reflection of just how much this team and its people mean to him. He would do the same again if such an unfortunate event were ever to reoccur. 

‘The truth of the matter is there was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium. There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.’

The injury to Awoniyi may have been avoided had the assistant referee raised his flag earlier, with the Nigerian clearly in an offside position for Antony Elanga’s cross.

A controversial rule change introduced at the start of the 2020/21 season means Premier League officials are instructed to keep their flags down until the passage of play is complete, even if they suspect offside.

Facundo Buonanotte silenced the City Ground crowd with his earlier strike beyond Matz Sels and the dropped points could prove costly for Forest in their pursuit of Champions League football.

Espirito Santo’s men now sit seventh, one point adrift of fifth-placed Chelsea, and qualification for Europe’s premier competition is no longer in their hands.

A trip to West Ham awaits Forest next Sunday, ahead of what could be a season-defining clash at home to Chelsea on the final day of the campaign.

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