Real Betis 2 – 2 Nottingham Forest: Awoniyi snubbed by Forest for the seventh game in a row

Taiwo Awoniyi’s situation at Nottingham Forest is increasingly raising eyebrows. After a frustrating 2024/25 campaign in which he started just three of 26 Premier League matches, the Nigerian striker has yet to feature at all this season.

His absence from the pitch has been conspicuous, named on the bench only twice and omitted from the matchday squad in five games across three competitions, including Forest’s Europa League clash against Real Betis at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, Spain.

This pattern suggests a significant shift in his standing at the club. Whether it’s tactical preference, fitness concerns, or competition for places, Awoniyi appears to have slipped down the pecking order first under Nuno Espírito Santo who was sacked over two weeks ago and now Ange Postecoglou.

His exclusion from the European squad is particularly telling, it’s not just about domestic rotation anymore; he’s not being considered for marquee fixtures either.

While it’s premature to declare his time at the City Ground officially over, the signs are undeniably ominous. Unless there’s a turnaround, be it through injury recovery, a tactical reshuffle, or a January move, Awoniyi risks becoming a peripheral figure in a squad that’s evolving without him.