Taiwo Awoniyi from Nottingham Forest undergoes surgery and is placed in an induced coma

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been put into an “induced coma” while he recovers from surgery on a “serious” abdominal injury suffered during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City, according to multiple reports.

Awoniyi collided heavily with the post during the closing stages of the Premier League stalemate at the City Ground. After he was given the all-clear by the club’s medical staff following treatment on the pitch, Forest’s forward briefly returned to the field of play before he was forced back off.

Forest released a statement on Tuesday afternoon claiming that Awoniyi was “recovering well” after undergoing “urgent surgery on a serious abdominal injury”. “The seriousness of Taiwo Awoniyi’s 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 read.

After the initial operation on Monday night, Awoniyi was placed in an induced coma ahead of a second surgery on Wednesday, as first reported by the Daily Mail.

The BBC were one of multiple outlets which echoed these reports, with PA News claiming that Awoniyi is not in life-threatening condition. The induced coma – which is a form of medical sedation – is thought to “help restrict his movement and regulate his heart rate”.

These troubling updates overshadow the initial focus which dominated the scenes after Sunday’s match.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was widely criticised for coming onto the pitch after the final whistle and confronting manager Nuno Espirito Santo following two dropped points against relegated opponents. Both parties tried to downplay the severity of the public spat, which Marinakis subsequently explained was a “natural” reaction to his frustration surrounding the miscommunication about the severity of Awoniyi’s injury.