Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi has been placed in an “induced coma” as he recuperates from an operation following a “serious” abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match that ended 2-2 against Leicester City, according to several reports.

Awoniyi had a heavy collision with the post in the closing moments of the Premier League draw at the City Ground. Although the club’s medical team had initially cleared him after providing on-field treatment, the Forest striker briefly re-entered the game before having to leave again.

On Tuesday afternoon, Forest issued a statement stating that Awoniyi was “recovering well” after having “urgent surgery on a serious abdominal injury.” The statement further emphasized, “The gravity of Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury serves as a stark reminder of the physical dangers present in the sport and underscores why prioritizing a player’s health and well-being is essential.”

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.