Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo remains hopeful of Taiwo Awonyi's imminent return to the squad in a bid to bolster their survival hopes in the English Premier League, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Tricky Trees sit atop the Premier League relegation zone with just one point ahead of Luton town who sit on the 18th place of the standings with just 25 points.
However, their main striker, who has been plagued by recurrent injuries, has been sidelined for a significant period, hindering his contributions to the team's campaign for survival.
With Forest teetering just a point outside the relegation zone, every player's fitness and availability are crucial in their fight to secure another season in the English top flight.
Despite Awoniyi's ongoing struggles with fitness, Santo expressed optimism during a press conference ahead of their crucial clash against Sheffield United.
Although acknowledging that Awoniyi is not yet fully fit, Santo emphasized the striker's potential impact, particularly in the team's quest for crucial goals.
He revealed that Awoniyi had rejoined the squad for training, indicating positive signs for his potential involvement in upcoming fixtures.
“He was out all week. He started today with the group so let’s see if he has this positive feeling. I think he can help us,” Santo remarked during the press conference.
Despite acknowledging that Awoniyi may not be operating at his peak performance level, Santo emphasized the striker's experience and goal-scoring ability, and stresses on his potential to make vital contributions in the team's decisive matches.
“He joined the team today, he had good feelings, we still have to wait for tomorrow to see how it goes. And if he feels okay like he felt today, I think he can definitely help with his experience, he’s a goal scorer.
“We are aware and we know that he’s not in his top level but definitely a helpful player for us in these final moments.” He added.
As the Reds brace for a challenging run-in to the end of the season, the return of the Super Eagles attacker could prove pivotal in their battle against relegation.
