“First I want to…”- Taiwo Awoniyi breaks silence as Nottingham Forest pals pay touching tribute to stricken star
Taiwo Awoniyi has posted a moving statement on social media and declared he is “still fighting, still smiling”.
The Nottingham Forest star suffered a ruptured intestine after colliding with a goalpost against Leicester City.
Awoniyi was placed in an induced coma after the incident late on at the City Ground, but he is now on the road road to recovery and has issued a heartfelt online address thanking the entire Forest family and told his team-mates he can’t wait to be back on the pitch with them “doing what I love”.
He wrote on Instagram alongside the caption “still fighting, still smiling”: “This season has been one of the most difficult of my career but through it all, I have felt the love.
“With the grace of God, I am grateful to still be here, to still be fighting, to still be smiling, and to be in good spirits.
“To my teammates, coaches, staff and the entire Forest family, thank you for your well wishes, seeing you all on your visit to the hospital lifted my spirits more than words can say.
“Wishing the boys the very best in these last two games, keep believing and keep pushing. I’m with you all the way and I can’t wait to be back out there with the boys doing what I love.
“To my family, friends and football fans, thank you for the support, and to everyone back home in Nigeria who has checked in on me, prayed for me and left kind words, thank you.
“I see them. I feel them. And I carry them with me every day as I recover. Come on you Reds.”
Forest are in action at West Ham as they bid to keep up their hopes of Champions League football next season.
Morgan Gibbs-White hit the opener in the showdown and paid tribute to Awoniyi by holding up his Forest shirt with his name and number on the back.
Nikola Milenkovic netted a second for the visitors who are on course for a massive final day showdown with Chelsea at the City Ground.
