Nuno Espirito Santo has defended Nottingham Forest’s medical staff following the decision to allow Taiwo Awoniyi to play on against Leicester City.
The Reds striker collided with a post in the closing stages of last weekend’s 2-2 draw at the City Ground. He received treatment before returning to the pitch for the final minutes but was clearly struggling.
Awoniyi was taken to hospital on Monday and is recovering there after undergoing two operations on a serious abdominal injury. Head coach Nuno has acknowledged it can be difficult for the medical staff to make decisions at speed and under such pressure.
“Of course it’s a tough job. Decisions are required, and fast. But we are top professionals and we have to be ready for it,” said the Portuguese.
“Of course we spoke (with the medical staff), of course we had dialogue. Of course we try to analyse what happened.
“But that cannot stop us. We analyse, like we always do. More than anything, what we want is for the players to be healthy.
“The welfare of the players is always our priority. And it is the priority of the medical staff - and they do it so well.”
Forest will show their support for Awoniyi when they take on West Ham United in the capital on Sunday (2.15pm kick-off). Nuno has described the build-up as being difficult due to the players’ concern for their teammate, but he has given them time and space to deal with their emotions.
“First, give time and silence for the players to settle down, then deal with the reality. And now prepare the game,” he said.
“First, we have to analyse what happened, give silence and space for everybody to settle down. It was a good week in terms of having time (to do that). Now we are working hard, getting details and finding good solutions and decisions.
“I don’t think T will be able to follow the game. But the players will make their tributes to him, because T means a lot to us and it has been so hard on him (this season).
“We have been together for so long and he has had so many setbacks this season. Honestly, each of us would change everything we achieved this year for T to be here with us. It was a sad moment.
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“They will have t-shirts. All that we can do to pay tribute to T, we will do. Because he deserves it.”
The Reds know they need to beat the Hammers to have any chance of potentially setting up a last-day Champions League decider at home to Chelsea. Forest are already guaranteed some form of European competition next season but would love it to be the elite one - it is just that qualification is no longer in their own hands.
“T is one of many people that we have to do it for. There are thousands of people who love Forest and we want to do it for them,” Nuno said of targeting a victory at the weekend.
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