Forest celebrates Awoniyi
After his former club, Union Berlin, hailed him following his impressive display against Arsenal on Saturday, Taiwo Awoniyi’s current employers Nottingham Forest on Monday took to social media to commend the striker for his outstanding performance in the month of May.
The Super Eagles forward joined the Tricky Trees from Union Berlin last summer in a deal worth €20.5m.
The Nigeria international suffered a groin injury that ruled him out of action for two months, missing nine Premier League games.
In his absence, Forest found themselves languishing in the relegation zone and were staring the Championship in the face.
After two months, Awoniyi returned to action against Wolves and featured for just four minutes as both sides played out a 1-1 draw at The City Ground.
He however went seven games without scoring a goal.
The month of May brought much luck for the Nigerian striker, whose hot streak — five goals in three games — helped Steve Cooper’s side lift themselves out of the bottom three and can no longer be overtaken by Southampton, Leicester or Everton.
After bagging a brace in their pulsating 4-3 victory against already relegated Southampton, the 25-year-old followed that up with another two goals in a 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
On Saturday, the Ilorin-born forward scored the only goal in a 1-0 win against Arsenal, thus ending the Gunners’ EPL title hopes.
Overwhelmed by Awoniyi’s awe-inspiring contributions, Nottingham Forest took to their official Twitter account to honour their talisman.
“@taiwoawoniyi18 has scored more #PL goals than any other player this month, in only three games, too,” the club wrote.
Despite a season blighted by injury, Awoniyi has scored nine goals and assisted one in the Premier League. He will, however, hope to take his goals tally to double figures when they play Crystal Palace in their last game of the season at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
