Nottingham forest star told club he has made up is mind

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi could be facing another spell on the sidelines after withdrawing from the Nigeria squad through injury last week.

It’s a cruel blow for the club’s leading marksman under Steve Cooper, who has netted 15 goals in 41 appearances for the Reds since joining from Bundesliga side Union Berlin in July 2022. The 26-year-old had only just returned from an ankle injury which may have flared up again according to reports from the Nigerian FA.

Goals have been hard to come by for Forest this season with the club’s forwards netting just 10 times between them in all competitions. Whilst signing a proven goalscorer is easier said than done, the failure to do so may come back to haunt Forest when the 2023/24 campaign comes to an end.

The struggles of last season’s promoted teams (Sheffield United, Luton and Burnley) as well as the points deduction handed to Everton, pending an appeal, should insulate Forest from relegation. But the club may struggle to realise the ambition of owner Evangelos Marinakis who wants so much more than just staying in the division.