Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi Faces Extended Absence Due to Groin Surgery

 Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi Faces Extended Absence Due to Groin Surgery

Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest reacts after a missed chance during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Nottingham Forest at London Stadium on November 12, 2023 in London, England.(Image-Getty)

Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi is set to face an extended period on the sidelines after undergoing groin surgery, ruling him out of action for several months, as confirmed by the club's manager, Steve Cooper, on Thursday.

Awoniyi aggravated a groin injury while representing Nigeria during the recent international break. The 26-year-old, acquired from Union Berlin for a club-record fee of £17 million ($21.18 million) in 2022, has been a significant contributor, scoring 15 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions for Forest over the last two seasons.

Cooper expressed the unfortunate news, stating, "It's bad news on Taiwo; he's had to have surgery, and he is going to be out for months." Recognizing Awoniyi's importance to the team, both in past achievements and future potential, Cooper acknowledged the striker's dedication and professionalism, emphasizing the challenges he now faces in his recovery.

While Cooper assured that Awoniyi will make a return later in the season, he acknowledged the recovery process for groin surgery takes time. Despite this setback, Forest, currently occupying the 14th position in the table with 13 points from 12 games, will strive to support Awoniyi in his recovery journey.