Taiwo Awoniyi might have ended Lorenzo Lucca’s Nottingham Forest career after Tottenham star turn
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Credit: Imago Tue 24 March 2026 14:00, UK Taiwo Awoniyi has proven himself as Nottingham Forest‘s second-best striker option after his goal against Tottenham. Forest boosted their Premier League survival hopes with a 3-0 win over fellow strugglers on Sunday afternoon.Awoniyi scored their third of the game in the 87th minute to seal the victory, with the goal being only his second of this season, and fourth since the start of 2024-25.He has had to bide his time to be given consistent opportunities to score, however, with just 13 league appearances so far this term.It remains to be seen if he is involved in Nottingham Forest’s transfer plans in the summer, but his latest impressive showing off the bench could well mean he is preferred over fellow back-up striker Lucca from now until the end of the season. 🔄 Nottingham Forest Transfer Update 🔄 Breaking news on signings, departures, and contract news from the Nottingham Forest boardroom.
VISIT THE FOREST TRANSFER HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Taiwo Awoniyi has proven himself as a better option than Lorenzo LuccaAwoniyi has been in and out of Forest’s matchday squads this season, but his latest strike off the bench should show Vitor Pereira that he has what it takes to help the club out of trouble over the next six weeks.It was a well-taken goal at the end of the game to put the gloss on an unexpected scoreline in North London, and was his second of the season as he also scored away at Brentford to help the Reds to a 2-0 win in similar fashion.Appearances12Minutes268′Goals2Shots on target per 901.68Chances created per 901.01Aerial duels won per 902.69Possession won in final third per 901.01Awoniyi’s 2025-26 PL statsForest signed Italian striker Lucca on loan from Napoli in the January window, but he is yet to prove that he has what it takes to impress in the Premier League.He has scored once in seven appearances for the club so far, and his performances have left a lot to be desired in recent weeks, particularly.Pereira did not include Lucca in a Premier League squad for the fourth game in a row on their trip to Spurs, and Awoniyi proved that decision to be correct by scoring late on.Forest hold an option to buy Lucca at the end of the season after his loan spell, but they clearly don’t need him because the Nigerian striker is still a better option.What has Pereira said about picking Awoniyi over Lucca?Pereira clearly rates Awoniyi as a better option in league games, while Lucca has played more often in Forest’s recent Europa League matches.The Reds boss explained why he picked Awoniyi over Lucca in the matchday squad against Fulham on 15 March, saying: “I decided to go with Taiwo. My decisions about how you need to deserve what you get in life.“It’s not about the quality, because he (Lucca) has quality.
He is a fighter, and I like this type of player, I like this mentality and spirit.”Such glowing quotes show that the Portuguese manager only has one thing on his mind for the final seven games of Forest’s league campaign, which is to give priority to Awoniyi, meaning Lucca will surely not be staying at the City Ground beyond this season.He could even force his way back into the starting eleven on a regular basis, after Football Insider revealed that Pereira is concerned about Igor Jesus and his lack of scoring prowess. 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.