Ahead of Sunday’s PL game, Nottingham Forest’s head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo has disclosed that forward Taiwo Awoniyi is currently not in his optimal physical condition.

This revelation sheds light on the strategic decision to start Awoniyi on the bench in their last game against Liverpool.

Awoniyi, who has been grappling with three distinct injuries throughout the season, has seen his playing time carefully managed by the coaching staff.

In an effort to mitigate the risk of further setbacks, Espirito Santo explained that the Nigerian started on the bench in the previous encounter, entering the game in the final 25 minutes.

This cautious approach comes after Awoniyi’s commendable resilience, having played in nine consecutive matches despite the challenges posed by multiple injuries.

The manager’s focus on preserving Awoniyi’s fitness underscores the team’s commitment to maintaining their key players in optimal physical condition for the challenges ahead.

“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,” Espirito Santo said in the pre-game presser.

“I think the decision of not starting him against Liverpool) was related to the previous game in the FA Cup when he made ninety minutes.

“Short period of recovering but he entered the game well and he’s okay.”

Despite his fitness troubles, Taiwo Awoniyi has proven to be a pivotal force for Nottingham Forest in the current Premier League season, contributing significantly to the team’s performance.

In sixteen games, the forward has been directly involved in nine goals, showcasing his scoring prowess with six goals and also displaying play making abilities with three assists.

Nottingham travel to Brighton’s Amex Stadium for a PL fixture this Sunday.