Will Awoniyi start for Nottingham Forest in big Premier League clash at Chelsea?

English Premier League side Nottingham Forest will take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Friday, and Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi will be looking to get his second start of the season.

Soccernet.ng reports that Awoniyi has gotten just one start in the Premier League this season. And that came last week in their 1-0 loss to Fulham at the City Ground.

The Nigerian striker got 45 minutes before getting hauled off at halftime due to tactical reasons. Now, Nottingham Forest will be looking to claim a win at in-form Chelsea on Sunday, but will her start?

Awoniyi grew to become the first choice striker at City Ground two seasons ago after his heroics helped Nottingham Forest survive relegation.

Unfortunately for him, injuries have dealt him a huge blow, as he has spent a huge chunk of his Nottingham Forest stint on the treatment table. It was during an injury spell last season that he lost his place to Chris Wood. The New Zealand man in turn has been quite decent, providing three goals in six games this season.

If Awoniyi had scored in the first half against Fulham last weekend, he would have given coach Nuno Espirito Santo something to think about. But with Wood still healthy, Nuno would still favour him in the starting eleven.

Still, it is noteworthy that Forest have struggled for goals this season, scoring just six goals. That was part of the reason Nuno paired Awoniyi with Wood last time out. But that plan did not work out.

Against Chelsea, Wood would likely get the starting shirt. However, Awoniyi could be called up from the bench if the Tricky Trees need some extra firepower in the final third.

This post was last modified on October 4, 2024 9:09 pm

Kelvin Omachonu

Kelvin Omachonu is a writer with many years of experience covering sports events in Nigeria and abroad. He is fueled by his love for the job, and is dedicated to delivering captivating stories.

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