“We need him to step up” – Former Nottingham Forest defender demands more from Taiwo Awoniyi

Former Nottingham Forest centre back, Kelvin James Wilson has urged Super Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi to step up for the club so they can avoid relegation, Soccernet.ng reports.

Awoniyi, 26, has scored six goals in seventeen games for Nuno Espirito Santo's men this season. The Reds are currently languishing in tumultuous waters as they're 17th on the English Premier League table, with just three points above Luton Town.

All of that could change on Saturday as Forest travel to Kenilworth Road to face Luton in their home. A win for Luton gives them hope of staying in the League, but the loss will add salt to Forest's injuries as they've lost four games on the bounce.

Kelvin Wilson, who played 169 games as a defender for Nottingham Forest believes the club is desperate for Taiwo Awoniyi to step up and start scoring regular goals again this season.

Awoniyi missed around three months due to a recurring groin problem. He returned late in January, and his last goal involvement came in the club's 4-2 loss to Unai Emery's Aston Villa.

Wilson revealed that the former Union Berlin striker doesn't have the luxury of time to keep building his fitness, clamouring for the 26-year-old to come up with the goods immediately, or else, it could be detrimental to their chances of staying in the Premier League.

“Have we got time to be patient? Time is running out but we need him to start firing now. I know he’s been injured but the pressure is on and we need him to perform. Ideally, we’d be mid-table and we could keep bringing him on for the last 20 minutes to get his fitness up. We don’t have the luxury to give him time, we need him to be scoring goals,” the 38-year-old said on the Forest Focus podcast.

Awoniyi started Nottingham's last game from the bench. Chris Wood was the preferred option for Portuguese tactician, Nuno Espirito Santo.