Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been placed in an induced coma to help his recovery from urgent abdominal surgery, according to reports on Tuesday.
The Nigeria international, 27, collided with the goalpost in the 88th minute of Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Leicester City at the City Ground, attempting to connect with a cross from Anthony Elanga.
Awoniyi came on as a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangare and spent only five minutes on the pitch before the incident. He received immediate treatment on the field and then rejoined the game, but was limping for the last 10 minutes of the match.
Photo: Reuters
The extent of Awoniyi’s injury was discovered on Monday by the club’s medical staff and he was rushed to a hospital for the operation. It is understood the coma would help restrict his movement and regulate his heart rate.
Forest on Tuesday afternoon said that Awoniyi was “recovering well.”
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis came onto the pitch after the Leicester game and appeared to remonstrate with manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Espirito Santo said that the incident was due to Marinakis’ frustration over Awoniyi not being substituted.
The Forest manager added that the Nigeria international was left on due to a misunderstanding between the coaching and medical departments.
Forest on Tuesday dismissed reports as “fake news” that Marinakis was involved in a confrontation with the manager.
“To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn’t just a football club — it’s family — and he instills that message in all of us. That is why he was so personally and emotionally invested in the situation that unfolded at the City Ground on Sunday,” the club said in a statement.
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