Taiwo Awoniyi makes 'tough' admission after question about Nottingham Forest future

Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest reacts during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United at City Ground on February 10, 2024 in Nottingham,
Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest -Credit:Getty Images


Having just returned to fitness and with Nottingham Forest not quite confirmed as a definite Premier League club next season, Taiwo Awoniyi is already fielding questions about his City Ground future.

Awoniyi, the talisman who inspired last season’s surge towards safety, has been a bit-part player this term with injury restricting him to only five minutes of football in the last two months. Thankfully Forest have negotiated another storm-tossed season and barring a highly implausible set of results on the final day of the season will retain their top flight status.

After that attention will turn to the make up of Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad and the started desire to trim numbers, with Forest’s transfer trolley dash having left them bloated. Whether Awoniyi is even among the names up for departure remains to be seen.

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That didn’t stop him being asked about his status in the aftermath of Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea, with footage of the interview being posted online. The 26-year-old was asked if he will still be a Forest player next season.

He replied: “That’s a tough one, for me I am still under contract at Nottingham Forest, for sure I am here. For now I am a player of Nottingham Forest.”

The striker was more confident about the Reds’ chances of avoiding an unlikely comeback from Luton Town in the final game of the campaign: “I think for us, we’ll be there. We’ll be in the Premier League next season, but the most important thing is to win the next game.”

For Awoniyi that comes away to Burnley where the Reds need a point to be sure but even a defeat would require a 12-goal swing in goal difference for the unthinkable to happen.

Awoniyi still has three years left on the deal he signed when he moved to Forest from Union Berlin in June 2022. He has played 52 times and scored 17 goals.

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