Nottingham Forest head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, has ruled Super Eagles striker, Taiwo Michael Awoniyi, out of his side's final game of the Premier League season against Chelsea, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Reds have defied the odds in the English top-flight this season, and are set for a place in European football for the first time in the 21st century. However, they'll be without Taiwo Awoniyi.
The 27-year-old suffered a clash with the woodwork in Forest's 2-2 clash against Leicester City and needed surgery on a ruptured intestine. He was placed in an induced coma, but he's now out, on his way to full recovery.
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He will definitely be an inspiration to his teammates who wore T-shirts during their warm-up against West Ham United with Awoniyi’s name on, and Morgan Gibbs-White held up his teammate’s jersey after opening the scoring against Graham Potter's side.
“He's much better. He's already been able to walk. The doctor has informed us that he's starting his normal life in terms of food, so he's much better,” Nuno Espirito Santo said in quotes revealed by Nottingham Post.
“I cannot answer whether he will be at the City Ground. I don't know. It's about the medical (information), so I'm not sure, but he’s OK.
“We are going to be playing for T again. He is not going to be with us. It was a big issue that happened to him, and it is in our minds.
“We want to see him totally healthy and joining in the group, so it is again going to be a game for T. For T, for us, for the fans, for the city, for everybody, but we just play the game.
“I hope this day is enjoyable for all of us, but we are going to face a good team. They have talented players. They are like us, in that it is a decisive game for all of us,” the former Tottenham Hotspur coach concluded.
Nottingham Forest are currently 7th on the English Premier League table, and have to secure a win against Chelsea to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.
