Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been placed in an induced coma following emergency surgery.

The 27-year-old Nigerian international sustained a serious abdominal injury during Forest's match against Leicester last Saturday and underwent the procedure.

Awoniyi suffered the injury after colliding with the post in the 2-2 draw at the City Ground, received immediate medical attention on the field, and initially continued playing.

He was eventually forced to leave the pitch, with further assessments revealing the need for urgent surgery.

The player was rushed to the hospital on Monday, where initial signs showed the surgery was successful.

Surgery occurred on Monday night, and he remains in the hospital, with the rest of the procedure scheduled for Wednesday.

Doctors had planned to complete the complex procedure on Tuesday but could not, leading to Awoniyi being placed in an induced coma.

Forest issued a statement shortly after the surgery but has not provided an update on his current condition, though he is understood to be "recovering well".

The statement read: "Nottingham Forest can confirm that Taiwo Awoniyi is recovering well so far following urgent surgery on a serious abdominal injury sustained during the match against Leicester City. The seriousness of his injury is a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game, and why a player’s health and well-being must always come first."

The statement also addressed owner Evangelos Marinakis' emotional reaction toward manager Nuno Espirito Santo at the game's end, attributing it to frustration over the handling of Awoniyi's injury.

It continued: "At Nottingham Forest, this principle is not just policy for us; it is the deeply held belief of our owner. To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn’t just a football club—it’s family—and he instils that message in all of us. That is why he was so personally invested in the situation. His reaction was one of deep care and responsibility. He didn’t see it as an isolated incident but as something reflecting our team’s values. In moments like that, he demonstrates leadership through action. In the final ten minutes, seeing our player in visible pain made it impossible for him to stay on the sidelines. His frustration at the sight—something no one with genuine care could ignore—led him onto the pitch."

Awoniyi has made 32 appearances for Forest in all competitions this season, scoring two goals.