Nuno: Awoniyi out for Chelsea clash
Nottingham Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi
by Staff Reporter
Saturday May 24, 2025. 10:42
Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has confirmed that Taiwo Awoniyi will miss the final game of the Premier League season against Chelsea on Sunday.
The Nigeria international required surgery after he sustained a ruptured intestine in the 2-2 draw with Leicester on May 11 when he collided with the goal post.
Awoniyi had to be placed in an induced coma, although he has since been discharged from hospital and is on the mend, with Nuno revealing he is able to move around on his own two feet.
The 27-year-old striker was absent for the 2-1 defeat to West Ham on May 18 which dealt a blow to the Tricky Trees’ hopes of finishing in the top four and he will play no part against the Blues at the City ground either.
Nuno’s side need to beat the West Londoners to stand a chance of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League as they are one point behind the trio of Aston Villa (6th), Chelsea (5th) and Newcastle (4th) in seventh place.
“He’s much better. He’s already been able to walk. The doctor has informed us that he’s starting his normal life in terms of food, so he’s much better,” Nuno was quoted as saying by the Nottingham Post.
“I cannot answer whether he will be at the City Ground. I don’t know. It’s about the medical (information), so I’m not sure, but he’s OK.
“We are going to be playing for T [Awoniyi] again. He is not going to be with us. It was a big issue that happened to him, and it is in our minds.
“We want to see him totally healthy and joining in the group, so it is again going to be a game for T. For T, for us, for the fans, for the city, for everybody, but we just play the game.
“I hope this day is enjoyable for all of us, but we are going to face a good team. They have talented players. They are like us, in that it is a decisive game for all of us.”