The Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi, who has struggled for regular game time at Nottingham Forest this season, received praise from his coach for his performance in the match against Exeter City.
The 27-year-old took full advantage of his first-team opportunity in the FA Cup match, scoring a goal in the 37th minute. Awoniyi received a pass from Ibrahim Sangaré and fired a powerful shot from outside the box, breaking his goal drought.
However, things didn’t go entirely smoothly for him. While the game continued, Awoniyi collided with Exeter City goalkeeper Joe Whitworth, which resulted in a broken nose. After the match, Nuno Espírito Santo commented on his injury, saying,
“I think he broke his nose, but he’s walking around smiling. He did an amazing job, he did really well today.”
In January, there were discussions about Awoniyi leaving the team in search of more playing time, but this did not materialize. There weren’t many movements in the winter transfer window, but Espírito Santo expressed confidence in his squad.
If Awoniyi continues his strong performances, he could challenge for a regular spot in the starting lineup. If he recovers quickly from his injury, he could become a significant part of Nottingham Forest’s attacking rotation.