Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has reportedly been placed in an induced coma after undergoing “urgent” surgery on an abdominal injury that was the subject of a heavily debated on-field discussion between the club’s manager and owner following a Premier League game over the weekend.
The Nigerian international was injured when he collided with the goal frame after coming on as a second-half substitute during the 2-2 draw against Leicester on Sunday.
Awoniyi was placed in an induced coma to aid his recovery from Monday’s operation, Britain’s PA news agency reported Tuesday, saying it will help restrict his movement and regulate his heart rate.
Forest had released a statement after Awoniyi’s surgery, saying he was “recovering well.” The team has two games left in the Premier League — at West Ham and at home to Chelsea — as it seeks to qualify for the Champions League.
After the game against Leicester, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis entered the field and remonstrated with manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Espirito Santo said Marinakis was frustrated because of a miscommunication between the bench and medical staff after the injury to Awoniyi.
ALSO READ | Nottingham Forest hits back over criticism of owner Marinakis over Nuno clash
After receiving treatment, the 27-year-old striker signaled he was OK to continue so Espirito Santo left him on and immediately made his final substitution, taking off Elliot Anderson for Jota Silva in the first minute of stoppage time.
However, Awoniyi was in discomfort for the rest of the game, effectively leaving Forest down to 10 players and hampering its hopes of a winner..
With two rounds of the season to go, Forest is seventh — one point behind fifth-placed Chelsea. The top five will qualify for the Champions League.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com