Nottingham Forest have returned to pre-season training ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.
The Reds were spotted checking in at Wilford Lane Wednesday, as preparations for 2024/25 began.
Forest barely made it through the previous campaign, and Nuno Espirito Santo will be hoping for a better result this time.
For a lot of players, the pre-season campaign will provide an opportunity to show themselves ahead of competitive games.
Forest has one player who has abandoned his own plans for the summer in favor of intensive training to prepare as best he can.
What Taiwo Awoniyi has said ahead of pre-season training
Prior to pre-season training, Taiwo Awoniyi expressed frustration from the previous season. He started the season fit, but later needed groin surgery and kept breaking down.
In total, he made 23 games, scoring six goals and providing three assists.
Forest would prefer to have him fit for longer parts of the season, but he is highly useful on his day.
Now, Nigerian journalist Oluwashina Okeleji has disclosed what Awoniyi has been up to this summer, as well as a remark from him about his ailments.
He wrote on X: “#NFFC striker Taiwo Awoniyi swapped party islands for Nigeria to recharge and give back to the community during the off-season.”
“The Super Eagle returned to Europe to improve his fitness ahead of Forest’s preseason this week.
“Awoniyi admits: “I listen more to my body today.”
Forest needs Awoniyi to stay fit this season.
The Reds could benefit from recruiting Chris Wood and a new striker to relieve some of Awoniyi’s workload.
Wood did it well last season, but he isn’t getting any younger, so a fresh striker might be a good idea.
No player chooses to be hurt, and Awoniyi’s groin appears to be a legitimate cause for concern for Forest.
He’s damaged it several times since signing for Forest for about £18 million in the summer of 2022, and it’s time to fix it.
Awoniyi gives a completely different vibe to the team when he plays, and Espirito Santo would love to have him available.
Awoniyi appears to have looked everywhere, and the 26-year-old’s future at Forest might be bright.
