Shearer: Awoniyi could be what keeps Nothingham Forest in Premier League

Premier League legend, Alan Shearer says Taiwo Awoniyi has hit scoring form at the right time for Nothingham Forest and could be the player to keep the club from returning to the Championships.

The 25 year old netted a brace against Chelsea at the weekend to help Forest return from Stamford Bridge to the City Ground with a crucial point.

Awoniyi has scored four times in his last two games and Shearer who scored a record 260 goals in 441 appearances in the Premier League has named the Nigerian
in his team of matchweek 36.

‘Hitting form at precisely the right moment. Chelsea couldn’t handle him as he scored two headers. He could be what keeps Forest up,’ Shearer wrote in his team of the week selection.

Awoniyi’s compatriot at Forest, Emmanuel Dennis will be hoping he is not second time unlucky after dropping to the Championship in his debut Premier League season with watford.

For the trio of Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi,the picture does not look appealing.

Iwobi has been one of Evrton’s most consistent performers this season. He has scored twice and bagged seven assists.

If the Toffees are to escape relegation, their 27 year old Nigerian will be one of the key players that will drive their survival battle.

Iwobi is well aware of the task before him and the club and they needs maximum points from their remaining two games starting with Wolves this weekend at the Molineux, a club he has scored most against in the Premier League, three goals in seven games with all coming in his last three seasons at Everton.

Iheanacho has been one of the Foxes’ best players in 2023 and has scored four of his five goals this calendar year. He has been voted player of the
match twice.

The Nigerian has been out of action since Leicester City’s 1-1 draw at Leeds United last month.

The 26 year old has been tiped to return for the Foxes’ final two game and he could be the missing link that the club needs to pull out of relegation and
into safety.

Ndidi has not been as effective for the Foxes this term and his form has seen him subbed on eight times in the 26 games he has featured in so far
this season unlike in his previous five seasons where he has been subbed on six times in total!.

Leicester City will however be hoping the 26 year old who has neither scored nor provided an assist since last season gets back into the form that made him
the best tackler in the competition in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons.