Nigeria international striker , Taiwo Awoniyi has been tipped for greatness with Nottingham Forest as the 2022/23 English Premier League gets underway this week.
Bought from Union Berlin for a club record £17 million fee during this summer’s transfer window, Awoniyi over the weekend posted a commanding performance as Nottingham Forest forced Valencia to a 1-1 draw in their last pre-season game at the Meadow Lane Stadium.
Brought in as a second half substitute ,Forest had Awoniyi to thank after he laid the ball for Brennan Johnson for the all-important late equalizer in the 83rd minute .
“ So far so good but I think some of our players need to stay where they are in order to gain more experience but I’m so happy with the movement of Awoniyi to Nottingham Forest,” former Nigeria International striker, Dahiru Sadi told Lagos-based sports radio station, Brila FM. “ I’m confident he is going to improve so much with the club (Nottingham Forest).
“ I watched them very much when they were in the English Championship under a very sound and technical coach and I think Awoniyi will do very well with then in the EPL.”
The 24-year-old Awoniyi who was Forest’s first international signing following their promotion to the EPL, scored an impressive 15 goals in 31 Bundesliga matches to help Union Berlin secure a fifth-place finish and qualification for the UEFA Europa League for the first time since 2002.
Yet former Nigeria international defender Ifeanyi Udeze , has urged Awoniyi to put up his scoring boots to help his side maintain their status in the EPL come next year.
“ I think the first aim for Nottingham Forest is to ensure they stay up in the EPL at the end of the coming season, “ Udeze said.
“ But Awoniyi is our own and we just hope he will score goals and goals for Nottingham Forest because that’s the job of a striker.
“ I just want to wish Awoniyi well because he has passed through a lot to fulfil his dream of playing in the EPL and we just have to wish him the best.”