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Nottingham Forest coach explains Awoniyi's bench start against Liverpool

Posted : 08 March 2024

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo has shed light on the decision to keep Taiwo Awoniyi on the bench at the start of their recent Premier League match against his former club, Liverpool.


The Nigerian striker, who missed nine consecutive matches due to a groin injury sustained during Nigeria's 2026 World Cup qualifying game against Lesotho, entered the field as a substitute with twenty-five minutes remaining as Forest sought a decisive goal.


Awoniyi's absence from the starting lineup was attributed to concerns about his workload and potential overuse. Returning from an extended injury layoff, he had started all but one Premier League game leading up to the Liverpool fixture.


Despite a physically demanding FA Cup match against Manchester United, where Awoniyi played the full duration, and 56 minutes logged against Bristol City, Nuno Espírito Santo faced challenges in managing Awoniyi's game time, as backup striker Chris Wood was sidelined with a hamstring injury.


Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of the Brighton & Hove clash, Nuno Espírito Santo explained, "He's closer. Everybody knows what happened with Taiwo, it was a long-term injury, then he started playing more than he should due to the circumstances of the squad, but he's improving."


The decision not to start Awoniyi against Liverpool was influenced by his recent full ninety-minute appearance in the FA Cup. Despite the short recovery period, Espírito Santo expressed satisfaction with Awoniyi's performance after coming off the bench against Liverpool, affirming that the striker is in good condition.


In the ongoing Premier League season, Awoniyi has been directly involved in nine goals, comprising six goals and three assists in sixteen appearances.

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