Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi has admitted that he feels “grateful to be here” after undergoing emergency surgery earlier this week.
In last weekend’s Premier League fixture against Leicester City, the Nigeria international collided with the post when attempting to score from close range.
Despite being in obvious discomfort, Awoniyi completed eight minutes of added-on time, but Forest’s medical staff sent the 27-year-old to hospital on Monday where it became apparent that he required emergency surgery.
Awoniyi suffered a ruptured intestine and required two operations, spending time in an induced coma either side of them, and he faces an extended spell on the sidelines.
On Friday, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo publicly commented on the situation for the first time, and Awoniyi has now followed suit on social media after a further two days of recovery.
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What has Awoniyi said?
Posting on Instagram, Awoniyi said: “This season has been one of the most difficult of my career but through it all, I have felt the love.
“With the grace of God, I am grateful to still be here, to still be fighting, to still be smiling, and to be in good spirits.
“To my teammates, coaches, staff and the entire Forest family, thank you for your well wishes, seeing you all on your visit to the hospital lifted my spirits more than words can say.
“I’m with you all the way and I can’t wait to be back out there with the boys doing what I love.”
Awoniyi was responding to his Forest teammates warming up for Sunday’s Premier League fixture at West Ham United by wearing shirts that featured the message “we are all with you Taiwo”.
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Forest deliver Awoniyi boost
Forest proceeded to deliver a 2-1 victory at the London Stadium courtesy of goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic.
As a result, Forest can still qualify for next season’s Champions League if they defeat Chelsea on May 25 and other results go their way.
There is just a one-point gap between seventh-placed Forest and Newcastle United who are third in the Premier League table, although the gap to that particular spot will become three points if Manchester City defeat Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
