Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White believes Taiwo Awoniyi will be a crucial to the club beating the drop this season.

The Reds suffered when the Nigerian was injured, but his return has given them huge hope going into the final phase of the campaign with their Premier League status at stake.

Awoniyi scored twice from three shots in Forest’s 4-3 win against relegation rivals Southampton at the City Ground on Monday.

The victory moved the club temporarily out of relegation zone.

“He’s what you’d call a typical striker,” the midfielder was quoted on Forest’s website.

“If you give him chances in front of goal, he’s going to score, and that’s what he did.

“He had a bad injury and he’s worked so hard to come back so I’m absolutely delighted for him that he got his two goals which he deserved.”

On Saturday, Forest were at Stamford Bridge, and Awoniyi was yet again on the score sheet, grabbing a brace.

The point keeps them two places above the relegation zone and three points from safety – more than Leeds United.