Awoniyi still not fully fit — Ex-Palace striker Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison has cast doubt on Taiwo Awoniyi’s current form, telling the BBC that the Nottingham Forest striker is still not fully fit and lacks the game-reading abilities of his teammate Chris Wood.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live while analysing Forest’s FA Cup victory over Ipswich Town, Morrison provided a critical assessment of Awoniyi’s performances this season.
The Nigeria international has found game time severely limited, starting just 20 Premier League matches and playing a mere 250 minutes compared to Wood’s 2,196 minutes across 27 games.
Morrison specifically highlighted Awoniyi’s tactical shortcomings, saying, “Taiwo Awoniyi doesn’t read the game like Chris Wood does. You can see he’s a striker coming back to full fitness.”
The commentary comes at a challenging time for Awoniyi, who has struggled to make a significant impact at Nottingham Forest under new manager Nuno Espírito Santo.
The statistics paint a stark picture of Awoniyi’s struggles. While Wood has been prolific, scoring 18 league goals, Awoniyi has managed just a single strike this season. His limited involvement has raised questions about his role in the team and his potential international prospects.
In the recent FA Cup match against Ipswich, Awoniyi started but was replaced by Wood in the 82nd minute as Forest pushed for a winner, further underlining the pecking order at the club. This pattern of limited game time and reduced effectiveness has become a recurring theme for the former Liverpool striker.
The timing of Morrison’s comments is particularly significant, coming just before the release of the Super Eagles’ provisional squad for the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe on Tuesday. Awoniyi’s ongoing form issues may have contributed to his absence from the national team selection.
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