Nottingham Forest’s talismanic striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, has been included in Alan Shearer’s English Premier League team of the week, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian striker, whose goals have proven pivotal in Forest’s fight for survival, has hit a purple patch lately, scoring four goals in his last two games, the prime of the bunch coming against Frank Lampard’s Chelsea on Saturday.
Premier League record goal scorer Alan Shearer included Awoniyi in his team of the week after a stellar performance at Stamford Bridge, scoring on either side of a Raheem Sterling brace.
The team includes Brighton and Hove’s Albion goalkeeper, Jason Steele, who made a few saves to keep Arsenal at bay at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Steele was also tidy on the ball, completing 86% of his total passes.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raphael Varane and Pervis Estupiñán were Shearer’s picks in defence. Estupiñán scored a goal and set another up against Arsenal, while Trent scored a beauty and was unplayable as Liverpool trashed Kelechi Iheanacho’s Leicester on Monday night.
In midfield, Eberechi Eze, Douglas Luiz and Ilkay Gundogan, who scored free kicks to help their teams pick up wins over the weekend, were also picked. To complete the midfield was Curtis Jones, who turned up in style to pick up a brace against Leicester.
In attack, Raheem Sterling, Mohammed Salah and Taiwo Awoniyi completed the team for Alan Shearer.
Awoniyi and Nottingham Forest face Arsenal next in a fixture that could determine the safety of the Nottingham natives on Saturday.