Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi to be brought out of induced coma

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is set to be brought out of an induced coma on Wednesday, according to The Guardian, after undergoing an “urgent” abdominal procedure following a frightening injury suffered during a game on Sunday.Awoniyi, 27, was injured on a collision with the goal post during Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City and was hospitalized Monday for surgery.He reportedly was placed in the coma to restrict his movement and regulate his heartbeat following the procedure, and was set to undergo a second surgery on Wednesday.In a statement on Tuesday, Nottingham Forest said Awoniyi was “recovering well so far following urgent surgery on a serious abdominal injury.”Awoniyi initially tried to play through the injury during the final minutes of the game but was clearly compromised.After the game, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis seemed angry with manager Nuno Espirito Santo, with observers wondering if it had to do with the 2-2 result hurting the team’s chances of making the UEFA Champions League; with two games remaining, Forest is one point behind Chelsea for fifth place in the Premier League, which is the final EPL spot for Champions League qualification.But Forest said Marinakis’ reaction was about his care for Awoniyi, who has one goal this season.“[Marinakis’] deep frustration at seeing our player lying on the ground in severe pain — something no one with genuine care could ignore — triggered him to go onto the pitch.It was instinctive, human, and a reflection of just how much this team and its people mean to him.

He would do the same again if such an unfortunate event were ever to reoccur,” the club’s statement said.“The truth of the matter is there was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium.There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.”...