Taiwo Awoniyi, the Nottingham Forest striker, is set to be taken out of an induced coma on Wednesday. He was placed in this state following emergency abdominal surgery necessitated by a serious injury sustained during a game on Sunday.
The 27-year-old was hospitalized for surgery on Monday after a collision with a goalpost in a match against Leicester City that ended in a 2-2 draw.
After the operation, he was kept in a coma to regulate his heartbeat and to restrict movement, with another surgery planned for Wednesday.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the club mentioned that Awoniyi has been recovering well after the urgent procedure for his abdominal injury.
During the match, he appeared to be struggling as the game reached its conclusion, clearly in distress.
Afterward, club owner Evangelos Marinakis seemed frustrated with manager Nuno Espirito Santo. There are speculations that the draw could impact their chances of making it to the UEFA Champions League, as they sit just one point behind Chelsea for the last qualifying spot with only two games left.
Despite the frustrations, Forest clarified that Marinakis’s concerns were primarily for Awoniyi’s well-being, who has scored just one goal this season.
“His frustration came from witnessing players in severe pain – it’s a reaction of genuine concern,” the club stated. “If something similar happens again, he would react the same way.” They emphasized that there was no discord with the manager and that player health is a priority, insisting that medical teams would never be pressured to continue with players who are injured.
