How Slegers turned Arsenal around to reach UWCL final

End of an era: Trent's top 10 Liverpool moments

Salah & the top 50 Premier League players of the season

Top 10 Premier League managers of the season

Top 20 women's players in Europe this season

Editors' Picks

WATCH: Son's priceless reaction as he's asked if he's better than Salah

How to buy Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Copa del Rey tickets

Scotland World Cup 2026 qualifying: Group, fixtures & results 

Santos Laguna vs Monterrey: Stream, TV & where to watch

Where to watch Ronaldo's Al-Nassr games: Stream & TV info

How to buy Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad Copa del Rey tickets

Where to watch & stream live MLS games

Man Utd live stream and TV channel broadcast info

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Awoniyi suffers abdominal injury</li><li>Forest ace has surgery &amp; put into induced coma</li><li>Nuno issues "positive" update on striker</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'It's been very difficult' - Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo issues 'positive' update on Taiwo Awoniyi after his horrific injury ordeal

Premier League

Nottingham Forest

Chelsea

<p>The Forest striker collided with a post and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/nottingham-forest-taiwo-awoniyi-induced-coma-emergency-surgery-near-fatal-injury-leicester/blt79bf3a9faaebe142" target="_blank">suffered a ruptured intestine</a> during his side's 2-2 draw with Leicester City last weekend at City Ground. The 27-year-old, who tried to play on but was in a lot of pain, required abdominal surgery on Tuesday, before eventually being <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/nottingham-forest-taiwo-awoniyi-out-induced-coma-successful-surgery-clash-woodwork-leicester/blt1c072b8acac9160f" target="_blank">put into an induced coma</a>. Now, manager Espirito Santo says he is on the road to recovery but it has been a "difficult" period.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>He <a href="https://x.com/SkySportsNews/status/1923366930800431224" target="_blank">told reporters</a>: "Surgery went well, thank god. He's on observation now but I think 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. It's been very difficult on everybody, the concern about the injury that he had, the situation that he endured; it's been hard on us."</p><p>Espirito Santo added: "I hope that next week he can join us and be around, because he’s a wonderful boy. This season has been so hard on him so we just feel so sorry for him."</p>

WHAT ESPIRITO SANTO SAID

<p>According to Forest team-mate Ola Aina, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/whole-world-could-see-ola-aina-blame-premier-league-officials-nottingham-forest-team-mate-taiwo-awoniyi-horror-injury-emergency-surgery/blt6894b2991065bd2f#cs3d816da7c674bcbd" target="_blank">all of this could have been avoided</a> if the linesman had raised their flag earlier, as Antony Elanga was offside in the build-up to the incident. Although football protocols, dating back to 2020, instruct officials to delay the flag unless they are 100 per cent certain a player is offside, injuries such as this may lead to a rethink of that arrangement. </p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>While it remains to be seen how long Awoniyi will be out injured for, his Forest side, who are chasing Champions League football, are away at West Ham on Sunday.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

'It's been very difficult' - Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo issues 'positive' update on Taiwo Awoniyi after his horrific injury ordeal | Goal.com

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has issued a &quot;positive&quot; update on striker Taiwo Awoniyi after a horrific injury ordeal.

&apos;It&apos;s been very difficult&apos; - Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo issues &apos;positive&apos; update on Taiwo Awoniyi after his horrific injury ordeal

Next Match