On May 1, 2023, Taiwo Awoniyi had just four Premier League goals to his name during an injury-disrupted debut season at Nottingham Forest.
By the end of the month, after hitting a serious purple patch, he moved into double figures. He became the first man to achieve that mark for the Reds in the English top flight since Stan Collymore in 1995.
Awoniyi bagged vital braces in back-to-back meetings with Southampton and Chelsea, and he found the target in clashes with Arsenal and Crystal Palace.
Celebration
Taiwo Awoniyi is the third African player in Premier League history to score in seven consecutive matches 🇳🇬@NFFC pic.twitter.com/AD7aoBJxa9
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 26, 2023
His efforts helped to steer Forest away from relegation danger, sparking wild scenes of celebration at the City Ground.
That fine form carried over into the 2023-24 campaign, with three more efforts against Arsenal, Sheffield United, and Manchester United. These extended his run of goal-scoring form to seven successive games.
Awoniyi had found his feet in the most demanding of divisions, and his value to the Forest cause was recognized a long way outside of Nottingham. There were talks of interest from Chelsea during the summer transfer window.
Steve Cooper and Co didn’t want to part with his services and while he may sit at +15000 for Golden Boot honors in the Premier League this term, he has helped to ensure that Forest are now no shorter than +500 for a tumble into the Championship.
Those prices will be attracting interest from around the world, particularly back in his native Nigeria where he has become a cult hero. Compatriots will be looking to nail their colors to Awoniyi’s mast, as he seeks more goals and points. A quick Nairabet registration is all that is required for bettors from Lagos and Maiduguri to join those in London and Manchester when it comes to backing the fearsome frontman.
Forest boss Steve Cooper has said of seeing the focal point of his attack come good: “You always want your number nine scoring goals. I’ve said before that we missed him a lot when he got injured and he missed three months. He was doing well just before that and so to get him back in the form he has shown has been excellent.”
If Awoniyi can maintain his high standards, then he should come back into contention for Player of the Month honors at some stage. He couldn’t claim that prize at the end of 2022-23 as, for some reason, the Premier League doesn’t name a POTM for May.
Nominated
Taiwo, Taiwo Awoniyi 🎶 pic.twitter.com/spFvqT7kvI
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 21, 2023
He was nominated for the first award in 2023-24, after bursting out of the blocks in August, but was pipped to the post by Tottenham playmaker James Maddison.
It may be a source of frustration for the powerful Nigeria international, but it should also inspire him. He has shown that he deserves to rub shoulders with the best in the business.
If the goals continue to flow from this point, with the strikes thrown into the mix, then it could become a case of third-time lucky for Awoniyi as he is finally recognized as the finest performer in the Premier League over the course of any given calendar month.
