Awoniyi in intensive care after abdominal surgery

These are trying times for Nottingham Forest’s Nigerian star, Taiwo Awoniyi, who is reportedly in an induced coma and receiving medical care in hospital after undergoing urgent surgery.

Awoniyi sustained the injury in the closing stages of Forest’s 2-2 draw with Leicester at the weekend.

Forest confirmed on Tuesday that the striker was “recovering well so far following urgent surgery on a serious abdominal injury.”

However, The Daily Mail reported that the injury could have been fatal had it not been addressed through what was described as a “complex” medical procedure.

The Nigeria international required on-pitch medical attention after colliding with the post while sliding in an effort to score.

He initially tried to continue, signalling to manager Nuno Espírito Santo that he was okay, but was forced off minutes later.

The incident left Forest with 10 men as they pursued a crucial goal in their bid for Champions League qualification — and it reportedly led to a confrontation between the club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, and Nuno.

Forest later released a statement on Tuesday, providing an update on Awoniyi’s condition and addressing media reports about tensions between Marinakis and Nuno.