Nottingham Forest star striker Taiwo Awoniyi is in an induced coma. This comes after having the first phase of surgery on a serious abdominal injury.

The Nigeria international, 27, collided with the post in the 88th minute of the 2-2 draw against Leicester at the City Ground on Sunday as he attempted to get on the end of a cross from Anthony Elanga.

Sources have told BBC Sport that Awoniyi suffered a ruptured intestine in the collision.

He had surgery on Monday night and remains in the hospital, with the rest of the procedure set to be completed on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Forest said Awoniyi was “recovering well” following the operation.

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Taiwo Awoniyi, a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangare on Sunday, received lengthy treatment on the pitch.

Elanga was in an offside position when he collected the ball but the assistant referee did not raise their flag until after Awoniyi’s collision.

When an immediate goalscoring opportunity is likely to occur, assistant referees are told to keep their flag down until the passage of play is complete.

If a goal is scored, the incident can then be reviewed by the video assistant referee (VAR).

Although this allows goals to be scored, critics say the protocol needlessly endangers players.

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Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis took to the field after the game to express his concern to manager Nuno Espirito Santo over how Awoniyi’s injury was handled.

Marinakis is being kept updated on the forward’s condition.

On Tuesday, Forest said Awoniyi’s injury was “a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game and why a player’s health and wellbeing must always come first”.

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Speaking to BBC Sport, consultant colorectal surgeon Gillian Tierney said the type of injury Awoniyi suffered can be fatal.

“The injury is really serious. It is potentially life-threatening,” said Tierney.

“It is very easy to miss at the point of contact and can take hours to diagnose.

“In a hospital setting, we would send a patient for a CT scan, which could take up to 10 hours.

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“If it occurred to an athlete who was super fit, very muscular and was running on adrenaline, then I think it would be extremely understandable to miss it. Fluid leaking from the intestine would not be easy to diagnose straight away.

“Surgery is usually required and the stomach would be opened up. The morality stat is 9%. So if an athlete – who went through the procedure – was really fit, they would stand a good chance of being OK.

“It would be different if the operation occurred for an 80-year-old who has other health issues.”

Arsenal’s winger, Bukayo Saka, has eulogised Barcelona’s youngster, Lamine Yamal, describing him as “not normal”.

This is a way of praising the remarkable feats Yamal has accomplished at just 17 years of age.

Bukayo Saka’s admiration for Yamal stems from the staggering performances the young Spaniard has delivered since breaking into the first team.

Although he won’t celebrate his 18th birthday until the summer, Lamine Yamal has already made an impressive 100 appearances for FC Barcelona.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Bukayo Saka expressed his awe, stating, “He’s top. Honestly, doing what he is doing at his age, what can you say, he’s unreal.

“It’s not normal. No one does it. I don’t think I’ve seen that level for a 17-year-old, so credit to him.”

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Yamal’s prowess was on full display during a thrilling Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan, where he was instrumental in a captivating 3-3 draw, further making his case as one of the brightest talents in world football.

Remarkably, Yamal’s career trajectory has already put him ahead of legendary figures Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at a similar stage.

By achieving 49 combined goals and assists through his first 100 games, Yamal has surpassed Messi, who had 55 contributions, by reaching that milestone at nearly 21 years of age.

In stark contrast, 19-year-old Ronaldo had mustered only 26 goals and assists in his opening century of professional matches, underscoring just how exceptional Yamal’s early career has been.

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Just last week, Barcelona won their Copa del Rey final over rival Real Madrid.

Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal had an amazing match, providing two assists to help his team secure a 3 – 2 extra-time win.

Real Madrid, in heartbreaking fashion, lost 3-2 to Barcelona in extra time of the Copa Del Rey final at La Paluja Stadium in Seville on Saturday night.

Real Madrid went behind after a goal from Pedri in the first half, but quickly switched on in the second when they scored two through Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni.

They then went behind once again when Jules Kounde scored the winner in the 116th minute after Ferran Torres’ equaliser.

Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen says the ongoing season will be a memorable milestone in his career.

Victor Osimhen achieved a new personal best by scoring a brace in Galatasaray’s impressive 4-1 victory over Sivasspor at the RAMS Park on Saturday night.

With this performance, he has reached 33 goals across all competitions for the Yellow and Reds, surpassing his previous record of 31 goals two years ago while playing for Napoli.

“It was important to break my record in my first season. I am at one of the most important clubs in the world. The biggest club in Türkiye,” Osimhen told the club’s official website.

“I would like to thank my family and friends for helping me. I would like to thank the technical team and the club staff. They never left me alone. This season is a memory that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Galatasaray are currently well-positioned to secure their third consecutive Turkish Super Lig title, leading their bitter rivals, Fenerbahce, by eight points with six matches remaining.

In a strategic decision, Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk explained the substitution of Victor Osimhen during the match against Sivasspor.

The team’s victory boosted their title hopes and highlighted Buruk’s commitment to player management.

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Osimhen, who scored twice in the game, was taken off in the 70th minute for Dries Mertens.

“I wanted to protect him and minimise the risk of injury, especially since he was close to receiving a card,” Buruk said.

“However, it’s crucial for us to also prioritize the well-being of our players as we navigate this demanding schedule.”

In other news, Barcelona won their Copa del Rey final over rival Real Madrid.

Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal had an amazing match, providing two assists to help his team secure a 3 – 2 extra-time win.

Real Madrid, in heartbreaking fashion, lost 3-2 to Barcelona in extra time of the Copa Del Rey final at La Paluja Stadium in Seville on Saturday night.

Real Madrid went behind after a goal from Pedri in the first half, but quickly switched on in the second when they scored two through Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni.

They then went behind once again when Jules Kounde scored the winner in the 116th minute after Ferran Torres’ equaliser.