Nigerian forward Awoniyi set for berlin return

Nigerian forward, Taiwo Awoniyi is due for his first visit back to his old stomping ground on Saturday.

Awoniyi completed a club-record £17.5 million move from Union Berlin to the newly promoted EPL side, Nottingham Forest, on June 25.

Nottingham Forest will play a pre-season friendly game against Union Berlin at their home ground, Stadion An der Alten Försterei in Germany on Saturday in their fifth and final pre-season game.

Forest manager Cooper said “Awoniyi was a player the club had been monitoring closely over the past few months.”

“There’s been a lot of interest of Taiwo from other Premier League clubs, and other clubs across Europe, so we’re delighted he’s chosen Nottingham Forest,” Cooper said.

“He’s a player who we really believe in and we look forward to him going on to fulfil his potential and become a top Premier League striker with Nottingham Forest,”he states.

Awoniyi was signed by Liverpool in August 2015 but never played a senior game for the club, playing for seven separate clubs (FSV Frankfurt, NEC, Mouscron (twice), Gent, Mainz and Union Berlin) on loan before joining Union Berlin permanently last year.

He played 65 games for Union and scored 25 goals, 13 of which came at the home stadium, it remains to be seen if his former fans will give him a warm welcome so soon after his departure.

PUNCH/ Mercy Chukwudiebere