Nottingham Forest must make bold Igor Jesus decision vs Aston Villa, it could define the tie
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(Credit: Imago) Wed 6 May 2026 8:30, UK Nottingham Forest should look to drop Igor Jesus for Taiwo Awoniyi in their upcoming Europa League tie against Aston Villa.The Tricky Trees are currently 1-0 up on aggregate heading into the second leg at Villa Park as they eye a place in the final.However, it is no doubt a tough ask for Forest to see out their lead, and the first goal could prove to be crucial.Luckily, the Reds are going into the game on fine form after beating Chelsea 3-1 on Monday, with Awoniyi netting twice.Now, the striker should remain in the lineup ahead of Forest’s crucial match. ⚽ Nottingham Forest Matchday ⚽ Team news, line-ups, expert previews and tactical analysis for every Nottingham Forest fixture. VISIT THE FOREST MATCH HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Taiwo Awoniyi must start vs Aston VillaAwoniyi has struggled at the City Ground since his move to the Premier League, and has offered little at Forest for years.Yet, like many of the current squad, he appears to have come to life under the guidance of Vitor Pereira.Taiwo Awoniyi’s stats vs ChelseaMinutes 90Goals 2xG1.11Passing accuracy72%Shot accuracy 100%Awoniyi had a great game against Chelsea.
Credit: FotmobEven before the match at Stamford Bridge, Awoniyi was on form, as he netted in the 3-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur, and picked up an assist in the 5-0 win over Sunderland.Now, after his stunning brace, Forest should look to partner him with Chris Wood on Thursday and drop Jesus in what could be a defining decision.Taiwo Awoniyi has been nominated for the @PremierLeague‘s Player of the Matchweek. 🙌— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 5, 2026 While this would be a bold move, Jesus struggled against Villa last week and has found goals difficult to come by in the Europa League knockout stages.As a result, by starting an on-form Awoniyi, it gives Forest the best chance to get an early goal and potentially end the tie.How much could Nottingham Forest earn from winning the Europa League?Former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider that Forest could land an extra £15million in prize money if they win the Europa League.So far, the Tricky Trees have earned around £25m for reaching the semi-finals of the competition after knocking out the likes of Porto and Midtjylland to reach this stage.On top of this, if they lift the trophy, they will also qualify for the Champions League, which will inevitably bring millions more into the club.However, it remains to be seen if Forest can overcome Villa and then either Braga or Freiburg in the final to lift the trophy later this month. Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Nottingham Forest Insider Access Get the full story from the City Ground and the Forest Training Centre with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the banks of the River Trent.