Former Nigeria U23 international Taiwo Awoniyi was a relieved man after netting his maiden goal in Mainz 05 colours in a 2-2 draw with Cologne last weekend.

Prior to the fixture at the RheinEnergieStadion, the Liverpool-owned striker had not celebrated a league goal for almost a year, with his last strike coming against Waasland-Beveren on May 17, 2019 during his second loan spell with Royal Excel Mouscron in Belgium.

"I can only be glad and happy for the draw and most importantly for the away point, all glory to God, I'm really grateful to him every time," Awoniyi told Nigeria Info FM's Bunmi Blair.

"Before the game, like everyone knows, it has been long since I played but when a date was fixed for the resumption of the league I have been doing my best every time and I was just hoping and waiting for the best.

"And when I was called upon to enter the pitch  I can't explain the joy that I had. I was positive that at the end of the day something good will come up."

Should the English Premier League resume as it's being planned, Liverpool are just two wins away from clinching their first league title since 1990 and Awoniyi is waiting for this to happen.

"I cannot wait for the English Premier League to start, for my parent club to be the champions which I believe they will.

"I think it is left for the English Premier League and the government if they decide to start.

"For Germany it was a discussion between the DFB and the government, and with the measures they put in place it really worked well for them so far,'' Awoniyi concluded.

Awoniyi and his Mainz teammates welcome Ademola Lookman's RB Leipzig to the OPEL Arena on Sunday, May 24.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : mainz05.de