Nuno Espírito Santo has shared an encouraging update on Taiwo Awoniyi, expressing hope that the injured striker will be able to join his Nottingham Forest team-mates for the final match of the season.

The Nigeria international sustained a severe abdominal injury after colliding with the goalpost in the closing minutes of last Sunday’s 2–2 draw with Leicester City. He remains in hospital, recovering after undergoing two operations and being brought out of an induced coma on Wednesday evening.

Awoniyi has been in contact with his Forest team-mates, and Nuno hopes to visit him in person soon. The head coach is also optimistic that the forward may be able to return to the City Ground in some capacity next week, ahead of what could be a decisive encounter with Chelsea.

“The info we have is that at least five days he has to be there (in hospital) on observation, if everything goes well,” said Nuno. “I will try to visit as soon as possible. He is in good hands and his family are there, which is what he really needs.

“The players are constantly chatting on the groups. We know that he is well. He just needs time.

“I hope that next week he can join us and be around, because he’s a wonderful boy. This season has been so hard on him, so we just feel so sorry for him.

“He had surgery. The surgery went well, thank God, so he is on observation now. He’s recovering.

“We still have to wait for the doctors to allow visits. His family are there. We are concerned but we are positive.

“It’s been very difficult on us and on everyone, because of the injury he had and the situation he went through. It has been hard on us.”

Nuno admitted that preparations for Sunday’s trip to West Ham United (2.15pm kick-off) have been overshadowed by concern for Awoniyi. However, he stressed the importance of focusing fully on the match—one Forest realistically must win to retain any hope of qualifying for the Champions League.

A victory in the capital could set the stage for a potentially decisive final-day showdown with top-five rivals Chelsea at the City Ground next Sunday.

“It was a bad moment for everybody, but we have to move forward,” said the Forest manager. “We have to understand we cannot change anything now.

“If I had to change something, it would be—if we knew the seriousness of the injury—to call the ambulance to take T to the hospital immediately. But none of us knew that.

“We have to move forward now. We cannot accept that after all we have been doing, our attention is not on what is really important—and what is really important is the game against West Ham.

“It is more difficult, especially because of the absence of T and the concern of the players. They have been trying to get news.

“It upsets everybody. We would change everything to have T healthy with us. But we have to move forward. It is our obligation to prepare for the game.”