Super Eagles star better than all but Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in key EPL stat

The Nigeria international has scored five goals in all competitions for the Tricky Trees since joining from German Bundesliga side Union Berlin for over 20 million euros in the summer

It has emerged that Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is one of the most decisive players in the English Premier League this season.

Awoniyi was a €20.50 million acquisition from Union Berlin in August, having excelled for the Iron Ones in his only full season at the club.

The Nigerian forward is settling down nicely in the English top flight and on Wednesday night, he scored his fourth league goal of the season to lift Nottingham Forest to a crucial 1-0 win over Southampton at St Mary’s.

It was Awoniyi’s first away goal in the Premier League and interestingly it secures Forest’s first away win of the campaign.

Even more significantly, all four of Taiwo Awoniyi’s Premier League goals this season have been the opening goal of the game.

According to Opta (via Sky Sports), only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane (with five each) have scored first in more different Premier League games this season.

Just as incredible is the fact that all four of Nottingham Forest’s Premier League wins so far this season have been 1-0, with Taiwo Awoniyi netting the winner in three of those.

Awoniyi scored the only goals in wins over West Ham, Liverpool, and Southampton. The 25-year-old attacker’s other league goal came in Forest’s 2-3 loss to Fulham back in September.

The Super Eagles forward’s fifth goal for Nottingham Forest was in the 4-1 triumph over Blackburn in the League Cup.

Awoniyi will look to continue his fine form for Nottingham Forest when the Reds make the trip to Blackpool on January 7 for an FA Cup clash.