Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has challenged Super Eagles forward Taiwo Awoniyi to score against Arsenal in his side's crucial Premier League game on Saturday.
Cooper was
on media duties on Thursday ahead of the game against Arsenal, and one of the
questions put to him was to comment on the form of Awoniyi.
Some things
have changed about the Nigeria international since he returned from injury as
he has grown in confidence and stature, scoring back-to-back braces in the
Premier League for the first time since his arrival at the City Ground.
Although
Awoniyi netted match-winning goals against West Ham United and Liverpool, in
truth, he struggled in the earlier part of the season just like everyone else
at Nottingham Forest because he had not adapted to the demands of the English
Premier League after his move from German Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin.
Just as he
was picking up form for the Reds, he suffered a groin injury that kept him
sidelined for around three months.
Cooper is
delighted to see Awoniyi firing on all cylinders since returning from injury
and urged him to do everything he can to continue his goal run on Saturday
evening against Arsenal.
"Performance-wise
he has been excellent since he's come back into the mix," Cooper told
reporters.
"What's
pleasing for everybody including him is that he's managed to get a few goals
now in the last couple of games and in the end that's what any team needs and
that's what he needed as well. So far so good with him in terms of his return.
He's back now, it's not about return.
"He
needs to play well if selected on Saturday and then do everything he can to try
and score again."
Awoniyi has
directly participated in nine goals (8 goals, 1 assist) in twenty five games in
the Premier League.
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