Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo says he is counting on Taiwo Awoniyi and hopes the Super Eagles striker hits top form when he returns from international duty with Nigeria, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Initially a sure starter when fit and available, the 27-year-old has fallen drastically in the team’s striking pecking order, with Chris Wood, Jota Silva, Anthony Elanga, and Eric da Silva Moreira way ahead of him.
Awoniyi has started once in his six appearances, coming on as a substitute on three occasions.
This is in sharp contrast with his first season with the club, in which he ended as Forest’s second-top scorer with nine goals despite being hampered back by injuries.
The former Liverpool striker was in action for 90 minutes against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup but struggled to make an impact and had his misery compounded after he skied his spot kick during the penalty shootout.
Nuno, however, hopes Awoniyi gets some minutes and returns to Forest in good form.
“All the strikers need that moment, but Taiwo did well (against Fulham),” Nuno told the Nottingham Post.
“It’s been a while since he started. He played 45 minutes and created a lot of situations. We’re counting on him. It was an option to put him alongside Wood. It’s something we have to work on and improve because it can give us good results, but that was the first time (of using it). I think he did well.
“Now it’s about managing him. Now he goes to the national team. I hope he plays because what Taiwo needs is competition and to be competing. Hopefully, when he returns, he is another option for us.”
Awoniyi has had to deal with several injury problems and was sidelined for a chunk of last term. The former Tottenham Hotspur manager hoped that he could manage this season.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a case of being patient with him; it’s about taking the right management. We have to assess him, and we have to push him, which is what we are doing. He’s doing extra work on the training ground to make up for the time he lost in pre-season. We have to manage him, but he’s a very good player for us. It is a good option to have Taiwo 100 per cent because he has proven before what he can do for the team,” Nuno added.
Despite struggling for minutes and form in front of goal, Awoniyi has been invited by Super Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen for the 2025 AFCON qualifying double header.