Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi has reportedly been placed in an induced coma after he underwent urgent abdominal surgery.
Awoniyi collided with the post in the 88th minute of Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Leicester City as he made an attempt to reach a cross.
The striker received treatment on the field before it was indicated that he should be able to continue, paving the way for Forest to use their final substitution window to introduce Jota Silva and Eliott Anderson.
However, it soon proved that Awoniyi was not in a fit state to play, but he struggled through the closing stages of the match with Forest unable to make a substitution.
The situation led to Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis walking onto the pitch after the game to have an animated discussion with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
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Awoniyi places in induced coma
Forest provided a fresh update on Tuesday morning to confirm that Awoniyi has to undergo urgent surgery on Monday night following the abdominal injury.
According to the Daily Mail, Awoniyi has now been placed in an induced coma and is receiving intensive care following the operation.
The early signs suggest that the surgery has been a ‘success’, with the second part of the procedure set to be completed on Wednesday.
While the report states the the nature of the injury can be fatal in some cases, Forest have released another statement to confirm that the player is “recovering well”.
The lengthy statement also provided further reasoning as to why Marinakis entered the pitch to speak to Espirito Santo after Sunday’s draw with Leicester.
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Forest clarify Marinakis actions
The statement read: “The seriousness of Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury is a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game and why a player’s health and well-being must always come first.
“This principle is not just policy for us, it is the deeply held belief and conviction of our owner. To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn’t just a club, it’s family, and he instils that message in all of us.
“That is why he was so personally and emotionally invested in the situation. His reaction was one of deep care, responsibility and emotional investment in one of our own. He didn’t just see it as an isolated incident, but something that reflected the values and unity of the entire team.
“In moments like that he demonstrates his leadership, not just through words, but through action and presence. When he saw our player clearly in discomfort it became increasingly difficult for him to stay on the sidelines.
“It was instinctive, human, and a reflection of just how much this team and its people mean to him. He would do the same again if such an unfortunate event were ever to reoccur.
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Forest hit out at ‘fake news’
“There was no confrontation, with Nuno or others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium. There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.
“In light of this, we urge former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgment and fake news online, especially when they do not have the full facts and context.
“Baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal social-media traction serves no one, least of all the injured player. We call on these influential voices to show the same respect for player welfare that they often demand from others. Let concern come before commentary.”
Forest, who occupy sixth place in the Premier League, will return to action on Sunday when they travel to the London Stadium for a meeting with West Ham United.
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