Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been ruled out of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool after suffering a fresh injury setback, TalkTalk Nigeria reports.

The timing couldn’t be more frustrating for the Super Eagles forward, who had only just been reintegrated into the squad by head coach Sean Dyche. Awoniyi impressed fans and coaches alike with a standout performance in Forest’s 3–1 win over Leeds United before the international break—a display many hoped would mark the beginning of his resurgence.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Dyche expressed disappointment at the development.

“Taiwo was terrific when he came on. Unfortunately, we’ve lost him with a bit of an injury, so we will see how that settles down,”
— Sean Dyche

Awoniyi has made four league appearances for the Tricky Trees this season but has struggled with consistency due to recurring fitness issues.

Opinion: A Painful Blow for Forest — and an Even Bigger One for Awoniyi

There are injuries, and then there are the kinds that come just when a player starts to find his rhythm again. For Taiwo Awoniyi, this setback feels like the latter.

Awoniyi has always been a player whose impact goes beyond goals. His strength, movement, and confidence on the ball give Nottingham Forest a different attacking edge—something that was clearly visible against Leeds. That performance felt like a turning point… until the injury news hit.

For Forest, the timing is unfortunate. Facing Liverpool at Anfield requires every ounce of firepower, physicality, and resilience they can muster. Losing a forward who knows Liverpool’s system—having once been on their books—is a tactical disadvantage.

But for Awoniyi personally, the frustration must be immense. Football careers often hinge on momentum, and just when he was beginning to build it, his body halted the progress.

Still, if there’s anything fans know about Taiwo Awoniyi, it’s this:
He never stays down for long.
Forest will hope this is just a minor setback, not another long chapter in the injury story that has interrupted his bright potential.