EPL: Forest lamenting over Awoniyi, Elanga’s double injury blow

Nottingham Forest have been dealt injury blows regarding attacking duo Taiwo Awoniyi and Anthony Elanga over the international break.

Both players were called up to represent their national sides over the last week, but had to withdraw due to injury.

The severity of the problems are still unknown, but the pair are now doubts for Forest’s clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at the City Ground on Saturday.

Awoniyi featured in Nigeria’s opening 2026 World Cup qualifier against minnows Lesotho last Thursday, but only played 58 minutes in a surprising 1-1 draw.

In the aftermath of the game, the Nigerian FA announced that the player had left the national team camp due to a groin injury.

After discussions with the medical team and Forest’s club doctors, it was agreed that Awoniyi would return home early for further examination ahead of the clash with Brighton.

Meanwhile, Elanga did not even get on the pitch as he was an early casualty from the Sweden side which endured yet another damaging defeat.

Sweden lost 3-0 in Azerbaijan as their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 have long been over, losing out to Belgium and Austria in Group F.

The now-departed manager Janne Andersson did not reveal any details about the injury, but stated that it was a problem picked up during Forest’s match with West Ham United prior to the break.

Andersson told the media: “Something happened during the match (versus West Ham) that caused him to suffer an injury. The club has to communicate what the status is, but it was not good enough for him to contribute during this international break.”

That could leave Steve Cooper without two of his main attacking threats ahead of the visit of Roberto De Zerbi’s side at the City Ground on Saturday.

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Awoniyi and Elanga linked up for the strike which earned them a win at Chelsea earlier this season, as well as a fine counter-attacking goal away at Arsenal, and have been the main source of goals for Forest this season.

After scoring in seven straight Premier League games from the end of the last season and the opening three matches of the new campaign, Awoniyi has only netted once amid lingering injury issues, but he has set up a further two goals.

Elanga’s summer move from Manchester United has been a fruitful one so far, because including his strike at Stamford Bridge, the young Swede has contributed to five Premier League goals this season – the same figure as in his two full seasons as a senior Man United player.

Callum Hudson-Odoi also remains on the sidelines, meaning that Forest’s options at the top end of the pitch may be stretched at the weekend.

Chris Wood featured from the start in Awoniyi’s absence earlier in the season, but wide options appear thin, so Divock Origi could be called upon in a less-familiar role out wide.