If Nottingham Forest do manage to qualify for Europe next season, whether through league position or cup success, it will mark a significant turning point in the club’s modern era. The ambition shown since Evangelos Marinakis took over has always been to push the club into that upper echelon of English football, and under Nuno Espirito Santo, that dream is inching closer to reality. But with that step forward comes the uncomfortable but necessary truth: certain players will be left behind, and one of those could be Taiwo Awoniyi.
There’s no denying what Awoniyi has meant to Forest since his £17 million arrival from Union Berlin in 2022. In many ways, he’s been the quintessential striker for a newly promoted club—strong, direct, committed, and capable of scoring crucial goals when they matter most. His contributions, especially in the back end of last season, were instrumental in securing Forest’s Premier League status. He’s become something of a cult hero among the supporters, remembered fondly for goals in key wins and for giving everything whenever he’s on the pitch.
But therein lies the issue: when he’s on the pitch.
Fitness has been a recurring problem throughout Awoniyi’s time at Forest. For a player who plays such a physically demanding role, his injury record has made him unreliable when it matters most. This season was meant to be his breakout year—the moment he stamped his authority as the club’s undisputed No. 9—but instead, he’s missed large spells through injury. And even when he’s returned, the impact hasn’t matched the promise. His recent start against Manchester United was a rare opportunity to reassert himself, but once again, he’s been struck down by another knock.
As TNT Sports commentator and high-profile Forest fan Darren Fletcher said on the Forest Focus podcast, the timing may now be right to part ways. Not as an act of disrespect or disloyalty, but as a strategic footballing decision. Forest are no longer in the business of merely surviving. If they are serious about competing in Europe and climbing further up the Premier League table, they need to evolve. That means bringing in players with a higher ceiling, and most importantly, more reliable availability.
Fletcher made a valid point—Awoniyi served his purpose, and did so admirably. He helped lay the foundations of Premier League survival. But as the team improves, the expectations increase. Fitness concerns aside, there’s also been a noticeable dip in how the team functions when he leads the line compared to Chris Wood. That alone has raised eyebrows. While Wood doesn’t offer the same mobility, the New Zealander has brought a presence, a calmness in the box, and an intelligence in link-up play that Awoniyi has struggled to match consistently.
It’s not necessarily about comparing like-for-like. It’s about compatibility with the team’s style, reliability, and consistency—three traits that are non-negotiable at the European level. Forest can’t afford to carry players who can only deliver in short bursts between injury layoffs, no matter how committed they are.
The challenge now lies with Ross Wilson and George Syrianos to identify a new forward who can deliver across multiple competitions, potentially with the added pressure of European football. This next striker needs to be durable, dynamic, and tactically flexible—someone who can complement Nuno’s system and offer both goals and intelligent movement.
Selling Awoniyi in the summer wouldn’t be a failure. In fact, it could be a win-win scenario. The player gets a fresh start where he might be more appreciated and used in a way that suits his strengths without constant pressure, and Forest get to move forward with someone more aligned with their new ambitions.
Ultimately, this is what progress looks like in elite football. It’s ruthless at times. Players who once felt indispensable can quickly find themselves surplus to requirements—not because they aren’t good, but because the team has moved on. Forest fans will always remember Awoniyi with appreciation and gratitude. His role in their story shouldn’t be underestimated. But sentiment can’t dictate squad planning if the club truly wants to establish itself on the European stage.
This summer will be crucial, and letting go of a fan-favorite like Awoniyi may be part of the price of progress. The hope now is that Forest can find the right striker to take them into this next chapter, while allowing Taiwo to write a new one of his own elsewhere.
Let me know if you want a version of this written like a fan blog, an opinion piece, or something else!