Newcastle icon explains why Awoniyi was handed surprise start in Nottingham Forest loss to Chelsea

Newcastle United legend Shay Given has shed light on why Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi was handed a surprise start in Nottingham Forest's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at the City Ground on Saturday.

Awoniyi, who was making his first start of the 2025/26 Premier League season, featured for the opening 45 minutes before being substituted for Igor Jesus at the start of the second half.

Speaking as a pundit on Premier League Productions, Given explained that Awoniyi was preferred to Chris Wood due to the New Zealand international's poor form and fatigue from international duty.

"Big news from Forest with Wood missing out. He's just having one of those seasons," Given said.

"Last season everything he touched turned to gold, this season Chris Wood is really struggling.

"I want [Awoniyi] to look at this as an opportunity. Chris Wood is maybe missing because he played for New Zealand [during the international break], it's such a long way back."

Despite not finding the net, Awoniyi linked up effectively with Morgan Gibbs-White and caused several problems for the Chelsea defense in the first half.

The Nigerian international endured a difficult campaign last season, losing his starting spot to Wood and later suffering a major injury that sidelined him at the end of the campaign.

This season, competition for places has intensified following the arrivals of Arnaud Kalimuendo, Igor Jesus, Dan Ndoye, and Omari Hutchinson, pushing Awoniyi further down the attacking pecking order.

Adeyemi Adewale

Photo Credit: nottinghamforest.co.uk

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