'He's smiling but with pain' - Nottingham Forest boss provides update on injured striker Awoniyi

Ahead of Nottingham Forest's Premier League showdown with Fulham, manager Nuno Espirito Santo held a press conference on Thursday, where he provided an update on Taiwo Awoniyi's injury.

The Nigeria international suffered a broken nose and a concussion in the second half of Nottingham Forest's hard-fought win over Exeter City in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Before making way for Chris Wood, Awoniyi scored a brilliant goal to put Nottingham Forest 2-1 up.

Nuno Espirito Santo revealed that the number 9 is in pain and under the care of the club’s medical team. 

In quotes relayed by BBC, the Portuguese football tactician stated: "He broke his nose, so he is in pain and is with the medical department. We are waiting for the right protocols to be followed. It is a concussion, so we have to be really careful."

Despite the setback, there is some relief as Awoniyi appears to be in good spirits. 

"He looks OK. He is smiling but with pain," Nuno Espirito Santo added. 

However, Nottingham Forest are taking a cautious approach, allowing the striker two to three days to recover before assessing his condition further.

Awoniyi's availability for Saturday's clash against Fulham remains uncertain as Forest are prioritizing his well-being and following the required concussion protocols.

The former Liverpool forward has found game time hard to come by this season, making only two starts out of a possible twenty four in the Premier League. 

He was linked with a move away from the City Ground during the January transfer window but ultimately remained at the two-time European champions.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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