The 2023/2024 season was a step down from the previous one for Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi no thanks to injury.
TAIWO AWONIYI BROKE THE DEADLOCK WITH A LOVELY LITTLE GOAL!!!
— Football Report (@FootballReprt) February 17, 2024
NICOLÁS DOMÍNGUEZ WITH A BEAUTIFUL ASSIST!!!pic.twitter.com/MGRES2w0N3
The Ilorin-born forward had an injury-hampered season which greatly reduced his output as he often gave away his starting position.
Awoniyi only managed 20 appearances across 38 Premier League matches and a meagre 1,044 minutes and 1,192 throughout the season, starting just 12 games in the Premier League and making appearances as a substitute in the remaining eight.
For a fact, Awoniyi could only manage 15 minutes of action in Nottingham Forest last three games of the season.
Across the limited time Awoniyi had on the pitch, the former Liverpool man scored just six goals and had two assists, scoring against Arsenal at the Emirates and at the Forest home ground, also netting against Manchester United among others.
The 26-year-old was not involved with the Super Eagles throughout the calendar year due to his injury situation as he could not make any appearances at that Africa Cup of Nations as well as other international engagements.
Per 90 minutes, Awoniyi had a poor 0.52 goals, with an XG (Expected goals) of 0.47 and 0.78 goal contributions per 90.
With respect to shots taken, the powerful forward had a total of 19, with 11 hitting the target and the other eight off target with a conversion rate of 31.58% and an accuracy of 57.89%. He also did not strike the woodwork at all but had to take an average 3.17 shots before each goal.
Taiwo Awoniyi had just three assists throughout this season with 132 passes successful out of 175 attempted with ten key passes and a pass completion rate of 75.43%.
He was also not bad defensively as he went won 51 ground duels and 19 aerial duels with his lanky appearance. He made eight tackles, one interception and was only dribbled past once, making 10 clearances.
His stats showed the hilarious ‘defensive striker’ in him this season as he failed to impress in front of goal, but did well at the other end.
Regardless, he finished third on Nottingham Forest’s top scorers’ list, finishing just behind ever present goal scorer Chris Wood and former Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.
He was also ranked 22nd among 446 forwards in the Premier League last season.
In November, the striker featured in a 1-1 home draw with Lesotho at the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but injury forced him out for the second qualifier in Zimbabwe.
The injury also ruled him out of the 2023 AFCON after he made his AFCON debut two years earlier.
Awoniyi will now continue his recuperation as he looks to be physically ready and healthy to go again next season.
His club Forest only escaped relegation by the whiskers as they renewed their Premier League status only on the final day of the season, finishing 17th on the table.
