Cooper opens up: Awoniyi’s injury haunted Nottingham Forest, his brilliance saved the day

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has hailed the exceptional form of striker Taiwo Awoniyi, highlighting his vital contributions as the team preserved their Premier League status, Soccernet.ng reports.

Cooper expressed regret over Awoniyi’s three-month injury absence and praised his recent run of goals, acknowledging the Nigerian forward’s brilliance.

Awoniyi, who has been a standout performer for Nottingham Forest this month, continued his scintillating form by opening the scoring against Crystal Palace in a thrilling 1-1 draw.

His first-half strike not only propelled Forest into the lead but also etched his name in history as the first player since the 2004/05 season to score the opening goal eight times in a single campaign for a newly promoted club.
It was Awoniyi’s sixth goal in his last four games, aiding Nottingham Forest in their quest to secure a place in the Premier League for the upcoming season.

Commenting on Awoniyi’s form, Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper told the BBC, “You always want your number nine scoring goals. I’ve said before that we missed him a lot when he got injured and he missed three months.

“He was doing well just before that, so to get him back in the form he has shown has been excellent.”

Cooper praised the striker’s exceptional goal against Crystal Palace, highlighting the team’s tactical execution and Awoniyi’s ability to create chances and convert them.

With the season concluding, Nottingham Forest secured a 16th-place finish, largely indebted to the remarkable contributions of Taiwo Awoniyi.