Nottingham Forest boss tells Awoniyi to 'do everything he can' to score against Arsenal 

The amiable Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper was on media duties on Thursday ahead of his side's crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal, and one of the questions put to him was to comment on the form of Taiwo Awoniyi.

Some things have changed about the Nigeria international since he returned from injury as he has grown in confidence and stature, scoring back-to-back braces in the Premier League for the first time since his arrival at the City Ground. 

Although Awoniyi netted match-winning goals against West Ham United and Liverpool, in truth, he struggled in the earlier part of the season just like everyone else at Nottingham Forest because he had not adapted to the demands of the English Premier League after his move from German Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin.

Just as he was picking up form for the Reds, he suffered a groin injury that kept him sidelined for around three months. 

Cooper is delighted to see Awoniyi firing on all cylinders since returning from injury and urged him to do everything he can to continue his goal run on Saturday evening against Arsenal. 

"Performance-wise he has been excellent since he's come back into the mix," Cooper told reporters. 

"What's pleasing for everybody including him is that he's managed to get a few goals now in the last couple of games and in the end that's what any team needs and that's what he needed as well. So far so good with him in terms of his return. He's back now, it's not about return.

"He needs to play well if selected on Saturday and then do everything he can to try and score again."

Awoniyi has directly participated in nine goals (8 goals, 1 assist) in twenty five games in the Premier League. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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