Nuno: We're counting on Awoniyi

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has highlighted the importance of managing Taiwo Awoniyi in the right way to get him back up to speed this season.

The Nigeria international missed a large chunk of the 2023-24 campaign with a groin injury that required surgery and he’s been used sparingly since making a full recovery.

Awoniyi made his first start of the new season in the 1-0 defeat to Fulham on September 28, although he was taken off at half-time despite performing well up front alongside Chris Wood.

The 27-year-old striker was called up to the Super Eagles squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Libya this month, and Nuno hopes he gets some game-time for his country to aid his match sharpness.

“All the strikers need that moment, but Taiwo did well (against Fulham). It’s been a while since he started. He played 45 minutes and created a lot of situations,” the Portuguese tactician said.

“We’re counting on him. It was an option to put him alongside Wood. It’s something we have to work on and improve because it can give us good results, but that was the first time [of using it]. I think he did well.

“Now it’s about managing him. Now he goes to the national team. I hope he plays because what Taiwo needs is competition and to be competing. Hopefully when he returns he is another option for us.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a case of being patient with him, it’s about taking the right management. We have to assess him and we have to push him, which is what we are doing.

“He’s doing extra work on the training ground to make up for the time he lost in pre-season. We have to manage him, but he’s a very good player for us. It is a good option to have Taiwo 100 per cent because he has proven before what he can do for the team.”