Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi is reportedly in an induced coma following emergency surgery on an abdominal injury sustained during their 2-2 draw with Leicester City in the Premier League, on Sunday.
The 27-year-old suffered the injury in the 88th minute after colliding heavily with the goalpost while attempting to connect with a cross from Anthony Elanga.
Awoniyi had only just entered the match as a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangaré and was on the pitch for barely five minutes before the incident.
He was attended to by medical staff on the field and briefly continued playing, but was visibly in discomfort and limped through the final stages of the match.
The club later confirmed he had undergone urgent surgery.
“Nottingham Forest can confirm that Taiwo Awoniyi is recovering well so far following urgent surgery on a serious abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match against Leicester City.”
However, BBC Sport and other British media outlets reported late Tuesday that Awoniyi had been placed in an induced coma following the first phase of surgery.
The measure was taken to stabilize his condition, limit movement, and manage his heart rate. He is expected to undergo a second procedure on Wednesday.
Awoniyi, who joined Nottingham Forest from Bundesliga side Union Berlin in June 2022, has endured an injury-hit campaign this season.
Following Sunday’s game, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was seen confronting manager Nuno Espírito Santo on the pitch.
The Portuguese coach later revealed the owner was upset about a miscommunication between the coaching bench and medical team regarding Awoniyi’s injury and substitution.
