Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi has joined his Nottingham Forest teammates in Spain for their pre-season camp, offering a glimmer of hope for the injury-plagued striker.
The 26-year-old has been a shadow of his former self since joining Forest from Union Berlin two years ago, with persistent groin issues disrupting his progress.
Last season proved particularly frustrating for Awoniyi, as he missed a significant chunk of the campaign due to the recurring problem. His absence was keenly felt by Forest, who struggled for consistency in front of goal.
The striker appeared to have overcome his injury woes during the summer, sharing images of himself undergoing intense training drills. However, a setback emerged when he was ruled out of Forest's first pre-season match against Chesterfield due to a minor injury.
Taiwo Awoniyi joins up with Forest in Spain
Following the game, manager Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed Taiwo Awoniyi's absence, casting doubt over his participation in the pre-season camp.
“He had a problem in the first training session of the week. Let’s see how long it takes. It was something in his calf. Unfortunately, not (for today). Hopefully he doesn’t miss too much of preseason. For all of them, it (preseason) is important, and more so for Taiwo,” said the Portuguese trainer.
Surprisingly, the club then shared a video showcasing the Nigerian's presence in their Spain camp, although his fitness levels are still unclear.
It remains to be seen if Awoniyi will feature in Forest's remaining pre-season fixtures against Millwall, Elche, Villarreal, and Olympiacos. With the Premier League season kicking off against Bournemouth at the City Ground, the clock is ticking for the striker to regain full match fitness.
