This month, during Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Lesotho, the 26-year-old, who has four goals in 11 games this season, aggravated a groin ailment he sustained in October.
Head coach Cooper now claims that the former Union Berlin player, who helped the team stay in the top division last season with 10 goals in the Premier League, underwent surgery to address the issue.
Taiwo has awful news: he will be sidelined for several months after requiring surgery. We’ll be there for him and work to get him back on the road as quickly and fit as possible, but this is a very tragic circumstance that is devastating for him.” Cooper told the website of the club.
“With the goals he has scored and will score for us, he has grown into a key member of the team. However, he is a wonderful man and a skilled player who is driven to succeed, so it is unfortunate for him to sustain an injury of this nature.
We must help him on his journey to recover and become stronger. He has already done that once at this place, and I have no doubt that he will give it his all once more. Considering how well he performed upon his return from injury last season, I’m confident that provided him with a solid baseline from which to work. He will most likely return this season, although it will take some time because of the groin operation.”
- Except for Awoniyi, Forest’s injury list for Brighton’s visit to The City Ground includes winger Callum Hudson-Odoi (hamstring), center-back Felipe (knee), fellow defender Murillo (thigh), and midfielder Danilo (muscular).