Two Nottingham Forest strikers are suffering with issues and their potential absences would leave Nuno Espirito Santo with limited attacking options
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo is sweating over the fitness of three players ahead of Saturday’s cross-Midlands trip to Aston Villa.
Taiwo Awoniyi, who netted in Saturday’s 2-0 win over West Ham, was forced off in the 67th-minute having not long come back from groin surgery. The Nigerian missed two months due to the procedure and only returned to action four weeks ago.
“We have to assess him now. Let’s see how he is,” Nuno said after full-time. “We all know he is struggling because he was a long time without competition. We push him – more minutes than he should have done. He is working hard. Let’s hope it is nothing serious.”
Awoniyi, whose potential issue is yet to be specified, has started the last three Premier League games with top scorer Chris Wood sidelined due to a long-term hamstring injury. The New Zealand international sustained the problem during last month’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal, which paved the way for Awoniyi’s Premier League return.
Wood, who has nine goals this season, might be out until April. “He is going to be out for some time,” Nuno said earlier this month. “Hopefully not a long time, but let’s see. It is a hamstring. He felt uncomfortable so we did a scan and there is a minor injury there.
“We are frustrated but this happens. It is part of the job. We are not here to always feel sorry for ourselves. We know more than anyone we have problems, but with problems we will find solutions.”
His absence along with Awoniyi’s potential setback thins Forest’s centre-forward ranks. Divock Origi has come on as a substitute in the club’s last two games but has started just two of his 11 Premier League outings this season.
Argentina World Cup penalty hero Gonzalo Montiel is also suffering with a hamstring problem that is likely to rule him out for the rest of the month. The right-back sustained the injury in the FA Cup replay win over Bristol City.
“He is in treatment so let’s wait and see. I am not sure how long he is going to be out for,” Nuno later admitted. Forest may be in line for some better news, though.
Ibrahim Sangare, Olaoluwa Aina and Willy Boly could all return this week having been ruled out of the win over West Ham. After the trip to Villa Park, Forest face an FA Cup Fifth Round clash with Manchester United before league meetings with Liverpool and Brighton to kick off March.
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