Taiwo Awoniyi out of induced coma, begins recovery

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is out of an induced coma and recovering steadily following emergency surgery on an abdominal injury sustained in a frightening collision with the goalpost during Sunday’s clash against Leicester City.

The Nigerian forward underwent a procedure on Monday night, with doctors placing him in a medically induced coma to limit movement and regulate his heart rate. While the injury was not considered life-threatening, the precautionary measure was taken to aid his recovery.

According to Mail Online, the second stage of the procedure was completed on Wednesday, and Awoniyi is now awake and recuperating in hospital, surrounded by family.

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Liverpool eye Ademola Lookman in stunning swap deal

Liverpool are reportedly  considering a sensational swap deal that would see  Nigeria International Ademola Lookman and  his Italian counterpart Federico Chiesa change clubs.

Italian media outlet, Quotidiano Sportivo, claimed  that  Chiesa is likely to leave Liverpool and return to Serie A after a miserable first season at Anfield. Despite picking up a Premier League winners’ medial,  Chiesa barely featured at all – making just five league appearances totalling 41 minutes, all of them from the substitutes bench.

Incidentally, Liverpool are among the clubs who are big fans of Atalanta’s star Lookman, and the report further claimed  that the Reds could consider a swap deal that sees the Nigerian move to Anfield in exchange for cash plus Chiesa.

The African Footballer of the Year is expected  to  leave Atalanta  at the end of the season if the Italian club receives a suitable offer believed to be around €60 million.

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Lookman has been heavily linked with virtually every top team in Europe over the past months.

A return to the Premier League is believed to be the likeliest destination for the 27-year-old, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and Newcastle all interested. Barcelona and PSG are also big fans.

Earlier this year, Lookman was crowned African Footballer of the Year and finished 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or race after a stunning 2024.

He scored a legendary hat trick for Atalanta in the 3-0 Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen last May. He hit 27 goal contributions for the season before taking that brilliant form into the 2024/2025 season.

In the first half of the season he was arguably the best player in Serie A, as Atalanta looked a good bet for the Scudetto.

Awoniyi in induced coma after surgery on abdominal injury

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is in an induced coma after having the first phase of surgery on a serious abdominal injury.

The Nigeria international, 27, collided with the post in the 88th minute of the 2-2 draw against Leicester at the City Ground on Sunday as he attempted to get on the end of a cross from Anthony Elanga.

He had surgery on Monday night and remains in hospital, with the rest of the procedure set to be completed on Wednesday.

In a statement earlier on Tuesday, Forest said Awoniyi was “recovering well” following the operation.

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After the incident on Sunday, he received treatment on the pitch and was able to continue but was visibly struggling when the match restarted.

Awoniyi, who joined Forest from Union Berlin in June 2022, had only been on the pitch for five minutes, having come on as a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangare.

Owner Evangelos Marinakis took to the field after the game to express his concern to manager Nuno Espirito Santo over how Awoniyi’s injury was handled.

Marinakis is being kept updated on the forward’s condition.

On Tuesday, Forest said that Awoniyi’s injury was “a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game and why a player’s health and wellbeing must always come first”.

Awoniyi in induced coma after surgery on abdominal injury