Awoniyi could ‘be around’ Forest squad for last game of season, says Santo… as boss waits to visit forward in hospital

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has said he is waiting for Taiwo Awoniyi to be allowed more visitors in hospital and knows the 27-year-old is “well” following two abdominal operations during an induced coma.

Awoniyi was seriously injured when he collided with a post during Forest’s 2-2 draw at home to Leicester City on Sunday but the Nigeria international has been woken from a coma and could “be around” the squad during the final week of the Premier League season, Santo believes.

“I will try to visit as soon as possible,” said Santo, adding that Awoniyi is required to spend at least five days under observation.

“He is in good hands and his family are there, which is what he really needs. The players are constantly chatting on the groups. We know that he is well – he just needs time.”

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Taiwo Awoniyi injury: Forest forward ‘wonderful boy’

Former Liverpool and Union Berlin forward Awoniyi was admitted on Monday night, placed in a coma on Tuesday and awoken on Wednesday.

“I hope that next week he can join us and be around, because he’s a wonderful boy,” said Santo. “This season has been so hard on him, so we just feel so sorry for him.

“The surgery went well, thank God, so he is on observation now. He’s recovering. We still have to wait for the doctors to allow visits. His family are there. We are concerned but we are positive.

“If I had to change something, it would be – if we knew the seriousness of the injury – to call the ambulance to take T to the hospital immediately. But none of us knew that.”

“He’s a wonderful boy.”

Nuno with an update on Taiwo.

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 16, 2025

Santo: Referees have ‘instructions to follow’

The incident took place while play was allowed to go on before an offside decision was confirmed, increasing debate around whether the rules should be changed to allow assistant referees to stop play sooner.

Santo said the officials could not be “blamed” for what had happened because the “law is like that” and referees have “instructions to follow”.

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett said this week that the protocol over Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews can endanger players.

“With the introduction of VAR came the process of assistant referees delaying the flag to indicate offside until the outcome – either a goal or possession of the ball by the defence,” Hackett told Radio 5 Live, via BBC Sport.

“This is to ensure when the assistant referee makes an error on an offside decision, it doesn’t impact on the goal being ruled out incorrectly. Sadly, this practice does expose the risk to players of injury.”

Our final away trip of the season. pic.twitter.com/M4D2XjPOSP

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 16, 2025

West Ham vs Forest

Forest visit sixth-bottom West Ham on Sunday (14:15 BST) before hosting Chelsea on the final day on May 25 (16:00) in a game that could decide which of the two clubs qualifies for the Champions League.

“It’s been very difficult on us and on everyone, because of the injury [Awoniyi] had and the situation he went through,” said Santo.

“It has been hard on us. We have to move forward now. We cannot accept that after all we have been doing, now our attention is not on what is really important – the game against West Ham.

“It is more difficult, especially because of the absence of T and the concern of the players. They have been trying to get news.

“It upsets everybody. We would change everything to have T healthy with us. But we have to move forward. It is our obligation to prepare for the game.”

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Premier League table: Forest target Champions League

Forest have dropped to seventh after a three-game winless league run and are guaranteed to finish in at least that position.

Arguably the surprise packages of the top-flight season, Santo’s side are a point behind the Blues in the fifth and final Champions League qualification spot and three shy of fourth-placed Manchester City, although both of those teams have a significant goal superiority over them.

They are certain to achieve their highest league finish since 1994/95, when they came third.

Before the penultimate round of Premier League matches, statistics experts Opta gave Forest a 17.1% chance of finishing in the top five.

Opta reckon Forest have a 59.4% chance of coming seventh, 23.4% for sixth, 13.1% for fifth and 0.4% of third, with Chelsea the team they deem most likely to occupy the last Champions League qualification place.

Have Forest ever been in the Champions League?

Forest have never reached the modern Champions League but won the competition in 1978/79 and 1979/80, when it was called the European Cup.

Their last European Cup participation was in 1980/81, with all three of their continental campaigns since then coming in the Uefa Cup, which is now known as the Europa League.

Most recently, they came through three Uefa Cup rounds to reach the quarter-finals in 1995/96, losing 7-2 on aggregate to Bayern Munich.