Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has described the 2024/25 campaign as one of the most difficult periods of his career, following emergency abdominal surgery that left him in an induced coma earlier this month.

In an Instagram post on Sunday, the Nigerian international expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal and thanked fans, teammates, and well-wishers for their support.

“This season has been one of the hardest of my career. But by God’s grace, I’m still here, still smiling, and still fighting,” Awoniyi wrote.

He appreciated the Nottingham Forest community for standing by him. “To my teammates, coaches, staff, and the Forest family—thank you. Your hospital visit lifted my spirits in ways I can’t express,” he said.

The Ilorin-born striker also offered encouragement to his teammates ahead of their final two Premier League matches.

“Keep believing, keep pushing. I’ll be cheering you on and can’t wait to be back doing what I love,” he said.

He extended his thanks to fans in Nigeria and abroad. “To everyone back home who prayed for me, checked in, and left kind messages—I see you. I feel you. Thank you.”

Awoniyi’s injury occurred during Forest’s 2–2 draw with Leicester City on 12 May when he collided with the goalpost while attempting a finish. Though he initially continued playing, medical scans the next day revealed the need for urgent surgery.

Forest later confirmed the operation via their official X (formerly Twitter) account. Subsequent reports indicated that Awoniyi had been placed in a medically induced coma.

Manager Nuno Espírito Santo confirmed this in a 16 May press briefing. “The situation has affected us deeply, but we’re hopeful,” he said.

The incident marred an already tense day for Forest, whose Champions League hopes were dented by the draw. Club owner Evangelos Marinakis reportedly confronted Nuno over the handling of Awoniyi’s injury.

Despite the setback, Forest have secured a UEFA Conference League berth—their first return to European competition since the 1990s.